
iiiililili 



-/ 



L i :^ m !t'K^'' ^^?^ ', ~ TimyL!\ ?:>vr 3 rfTg^ . 




ICl 



■W'-i 



t 









Class PS ^5^7 
Book , 0i^ 5S>fi, 



Copyright }l°- 



<^0l 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSnV 



SUN TIME AND 
CLOUD TIME 

MINOR CHORDS 

VERSES SKETCHES TALES 



BY 

ANDREW HARVEY SCOBLE 



R. F. FENNO & COMPANY 

i8 EAST 17TH ST., NEW YORK 



tlbR.AKYcf CONGRESS 
Two Copies Ssceived 

DEC 29 ie08 

y\ Coyyritjm Entry 
GLASS ft. XXClNq 
COPY S). 



Copyright 1908 
By Andrew H. Scoble 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Life i 

Mother ...:.. 2 

Long Time I Wondered . 3 

Victoria Mater ,. . . 4 

On the Death of Gounod ........ 6 

The Hudson Autumnal 7 

Remembrance ., .1 . 8 

To Jefferson > . 9 

To Mary .10 

K. G :., . . ir 

Old Memories Avaunt ....... ..1 . ■. 12 

The Rose •. . . 14 

The Soul Cry . .: ,. . 16 

The Jilt , 19 

Trinity 21 

In Memoriam 26 

I Lie Face Downward 29 

The Song Z7 

Quatrains 42 

It's Kinder Hard and Sick'ning .45 

Sat She in the Shade .48 

Pre-lives ; :. . . 51 

Equality ,,....., 58 

The Brat . ..:.,.. 62 

Mullaney ...... .. .1 . . ■• ... 1. 74 

Words Eternal loS 

A Creature of Circumstance ....... 135 

Mistress Dorothy ,., ..j 1.. >; 1.1 w « i., ^ > 165 



Sun Time and Cloud Time 
Minor Chords 



LIFE 

Sun time and star time, 

Blue is the sky, and bright; 
Breath of the morn of the southern clime, 

Joy and delight. 

Cloud time and storm time. 

Chill and the drenching rain; 

Black is the day in its waking prime, 
Sorrow and pain. 

Day time and night time, 

Hopes of day unsuccessed; 
Toil of the day ceased at even chime. 

Sleep and rest. 



MOTHER 

I searched Carrara's quarried hills and 
plain, 
For stone so white as would thy life befit, 
That I thy worth might loving cut on it, 

But found not one but had some hidden 
stain. 

My fitful mind I eager, long did strain 
For thought so pure and strong that once 

'twas writ, 
Or loud out-spoke, thy memory by it 

Would ever live; Alas! I strove in vain. 
Sorrowed, I trended hopeless on, and then, 

Lo ! e'en as I despaired, I heard thy name 
Out-lisped by babes and soft out-cried by men, 

More oft bespoke than other word of fame. 
More loving said, more gently told, than when, 

Doth tell a lover of his heart's enflame. 



LONG TIME I WONDERED 

Long time I wondered that the guilty Fay 
Was e'er seduced by earth-born loveliness, 
Did stoop his caste to lingering caress 
The mortal maiden as she slumb'ring lay; 
And, cynical, I'd smile and sneering say 
The Elf was blind, or else 'twas mind dis- 
tress 
From beady mountain dew drunk to excess, 
Or else 'twas done in reckless royst'ring play; 
For I bethought no woman was sincere, 
And trustless, scorning, shunned the beau- 
teous crowd, 
And wandered from their ways in dreading 
fear. 
And deemed her faithful most who never 
vowed : 
And so I walked my lonely way and drear. 
Till fate did kind, to meet thee, me al- 
lowed. 

3 



VICTORIA MATER 

England ! I walk erect apast thy royal stands, 
And tremble not, nor fear, when roar thy 
thousand guns; 
I ponder, all amazed, to see fealty's strands 
Long bind strong peoples to time-useless 
thrones : 
England ! I hate the pomp which glittering en- 
grands 
Thy higher living way that ever-scorning 
runs, 
Blood proud, disdainful, by thy humble toil- 
ing bands 
Whose ruddy hearts do e'er hold back thy 
setting suns. 
[But when I, sincere, view thy gracious 
Queen's-wise reign, 
And feel her loving care of all her subject 
ones, 



Minor Chords 5, 

When fall her sorrowed tears on thy own 
valiants slain, 
Then do I yield the homage which my free 
thought shuns. 
Victoria! Queen of England's far-stretched 
lands, I fain 
iWould greet Thee more as mother of all 
England's sons. 



ON THE DEATH OF GOUNOD 

The Winds are stilled, JEolhn's strings are 
mute, 
Unstrung and dumb, the Lyre broken lies; 
The Cello moans, the Viol sobbing sighs, 
Loud shrieks the Fife, and raves the frenzied 

Flute; 
The Earth, heart sick, grief struck and desti- 
tute, 
Aloud its woe and desolation cries; 
The Sun's cloud hid, and teem the weeping 
Skies, 
And Heaven alone rejoices In Its loot. 
Gounod ! Beyond yon dreaded mystic haze, 
The winds of faith or rougher blasts of 
thought 
Of'tlmes dispel, were trite the hymns of 
praise; 
The choired souls, mind weary, all dis- 
traught, 
To theme anew the songs of endless days. 
Thy greater mind and master soul be- 
sought. 

6 



THE HUDSON AUTUMNAL 

ON A TRIP TO ALBANY. 

High cliffs, rock cragged, low hills of ever- 
green, 
tValley and glade, entanglement of brush, 
Sands yellow of the sloping bank, the glim- 
mering sheen 
Of sun glint, and the autumn wind's sharp 
rush; 
Turning the trees and bush in sadful spleen, 
Leaves falling ruddy in their dying lush; 
Castle and hut, with happy homes atween; 
From far-off mist the mountain tops up- 
push; 
Smoke haze of busy towns, full hid by screen 
Of dust, toil raised; the woodlands lonely 

hush. 
The merry calls of men who grateful glean 

The fruits of labor of the summer's flush: 
Roof and tower, spire and cross — behold! 
The sun is low, the City's bathed in gold. 



REMEMBRANCE 

Nor imaged face, 
Nor gift of love, 
Nor smile, nor sigh 
Nor fervent vow, 
lYield tithe of joy, 
Sincerer trust, 
[As thought of thought 
Of purer heart 
'And constant soul 

Remembrance. 



® 



TO JEFFERSON 

Now on Time's mount eternal sleeps old Rip, 

And all the ages, as his twenty years, 
Shall be a short night's dreamless slip 

From one day's rack of strife and scolding 
tears, 
To morn of peace; Ah! Friend, who oft did 
ease 
The burdens of my soul by your night's 
play, 
I ask dear God it him may loving please. 

That, when you wake to that unending day 

And clamber down, in maze, to wond'ring 

view, 

Of the great Epilogue, the long set scene, 

Will come with smiles, and hands outstretched 

to you. 

We, who have loved you so in acts terrene. 



9 



TO MARY 

Oh ! Mary, Mary, 
Quite contrary, 
What in your garden grows? 

The violet and mignonette, 
And too, the dear moss rose. 

How canst thou, Mary, 

Be contrary, 
Where bloom in gardened rows, 
Sweet violets, and mignonettes. 
And Love's own fragrant rose? 



10 



K. G. 

Dear ebon band of silk elastic, 
Which wound my Lady's knee, 

And bound to limbs so graced and plastic 
Her dainty hosiery. 

Ousted from realms of shimmering lace, 

DId'st thou caressing hold 
Her limbs, so white, in too strong em- 
brace? 

Ah ! Would I were as bold. 

Unknown to her I made thee mine, 
I, faithless clasp, thank thee; 

Sweet mem'ries thou dost strong entwine 
With dearer hopes for me. 

By this fair trophy bound by fond ties 

Of love and loyalty, 
I will yield me any sacrifice, 

Her garter knight I'll be. 
II 



OLD MEMORIES AVAUNT 

What recks it me if all my day was bright, 
And all the west my setting sun did glow, 

If I must, restless, rove the starless night, 
And long the lingering hours to go. 

IWhat doth avail if I did idle play 

All in my noon, and knew not pains nor 
woes. 
If now I bend 'neath loads that heavy weigh, 
And lie asick and shrink misfortune's 
blows. 

Doth sun of day light up the long night's 
dark? 
Is toil enlightened by our old time shirk? 
Doth life enliven any dead and stark? 
Doth in our griefs and sorrows surcease 
lurk? 



1% 



Minor Chords 13; 

Old friends! I wander lonely through the 

ways 

Of bygone times, and in my gloom I seek 

One hand to hold mine in, one voice that says, 

" Thou art my friend," not any one doth 

speak. 

Old joys! I former, careless quaffed the cup 
From pleasure's fount, o'erflowing, brim- 
full filled; 
On crusts from feasts of yesterday I sup. 
And drain the bitter dregs my fate hath 
willed. 

Old hopes! Upon thy many graves I 
strewed. 
Ashes of rosemary, never to forget, 
Yet, so enriched, the barren earth is nude. 
E'en though the soil my streaming tears 
did wet. 

Old memories! Ye haunting, mocking crew, 
Be gone, ye taunting tormentors accurst, 

I'll eat my fill of pleasures that are new, 
Waters of Lethe will cool my parched 
soul's thirst. 



THE ROSE 

The rose, which, cultured, yields a perfume 
sweet 
And breathes on all around Its fragrant 
breath, 
Neglected, trails, and bruised by random feet, 
Doth grow to rankness or soon droops to 
death. 

Oh, Lady dear! My heart's a budding 

rose. 
And wilt thou lay me on thy bosom fair, 
Close to thy soul, and may I there repose, 
Or lie entangled In thy sun-klst hair. 

Or wilt thou go disdainful on thy way, 

Or see me not and tread me crushing down ; 
Or Idly pluck me for a moment's play. 

To toss me from- thee with a scorning 
frown. 

114 



Minor Chords 15 

If by thy lips I'm touched, I'll fuller blow, 
Than rose before e'er bloomed in summer 
time; 

If on thy breast I lie, in purer snow, 
I'll open sooner than in tropic clime. 

If 'neath thy feet I wantonly am trod. 

My thorns will pierce thee as I hapless lie; 

If thou dost toss me to the stone and clod 
And careless pass along, I'll eager die. 

The heart beloved hath gracious love for all, 
And, as the sunht moon, is constant bright; 

The heart unloved lies covered by a pall. 
And knows no day but lives in cloud-hung 
night. 



THE SOUL CRY 

Then had time passed 

Since life's errant sway, 
Fated us parted, 

Parted away; 
Sad was my soul, 

Faint-hearted I lay, 
Thinking unceasing, 

Longing alway 

Sweet one for thee. 

Then did I list, 

Thy voice calling me. 
Floating came over. 

Over the sea; 
Dead hopes enllfed, 

Bade sorrow flee. 
Leaving me joyous. 

Setting me free 

To come to thee. 
i6 



Minor Chords 17 

I hoist me sail, 

The winds strongly blew, 
Wafting me onward, 

Onward I flew; 
Blythe grew my heart, 

My song stronger grew, 
Singing so happily, 

Singing anew 

Dear one of thee. 

Then did we meet. 

Thee sleeping at rest; 
Sleeping thy death-sleep, 

Sleep of the blest; 
Bitter my grief, 

Woe filled my soul. 
Sigh I unceasing, 

None can console 

Dear one for thee. 

But 'twas thy voice, 

I heard calling me, 
Calling thy soul mate 

Over the sea; 



1 8 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Still do I live, 

Still live seeking thee; 
Strifing that death will 

.Take me to be 

My own with thee. 



THE JILT 

A supple form, a fairsome face, 
A winning smile of guileful grace. 
High forehead white, dark wavy hair. 

Arched brows, and eyes, whose limpid 
brown 

Now shine with glee, are now cast down 
To hide the mischief lurking there ; 
A rounded face, a piquant nose, 
Cheeks tinted with the flush of rose; 
Into her ears but whisperings go 
So tiny are they; soft and low 
Her dear, sweet voice; her merry laugh. 
Doth winnow joy from sorrow's chaff. 

And careless blows all woe away; 
Her bosoms snowy are and chaste, 
But graced and swelling, and her waist 
Is so proportioned as ordained 
By nature, which art well has feigned; 
Her hands. Ah me ! Oft have I held 
Her little hands and was I spelled 

19 



20 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

By her fair charms; her arms do seem 

As chiselled stones which sculptured gleam 

And rest to prove a master's dream : 

A witching gown, a glance of lace, 

Of silken stocking such a trace 

As she dost grant; an ankle lithe, 

A restless foot, high-instepped, with 

The swiftful movings which betray 
The artful spirit which pervades 
The beings of all jilting maids. 

For so no heart nor soul hath she, 

But, spider-like, she lures until 
The victims of her witchery. 

Find that she's spun with charming skill 
A silken web where happy, they, 
Entangled in love's meshes lie. 
Till, wearied with her dainty play, 
She casts the web with them away, 
Too cruel, too unkind, to break 
The binding cords love's weavings make. 
Whilst she may wander ever free 
They lie in bitt'rest slavery. 



TRINITY 

,Ye busy marts that crowd the peaceful scene, 
Ye realms of plotting men and gilded dross, 

Within thy midst from out her mortalled' 
green, 
Old Trinity uplifts her spired cross. 

Ye narrow streets, ye broader peopled way, 
Converge ye from the earth's remotest 
shore. 

Into one path where vast, invested lay, 
The wealth of few, the poverty of more. 

Ye surging crowds intent on urging toil. 
Ye snaring cliques, and men of constant 
schemes 
To eager loot and ruthlessly to spoil 

The wrecks of trusts, and waken hopeful 
dreams. 



21 



22 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Why haste ye on, why turn ye not aside, 
And rest yourselves within this sanctured 
place? 
Behind these gates, who here awhile may 
bide, 
Will find sweet peace and soul-refreshing 
grace. 

I love to linger as in olden days. 

In these dear aisles, in shades of sombre 
light, 
Or bathed in floods of holy tinted rays, 

Or lost In gloom of early dark'ning night. 

I hear the organ peal, the choir tune 

The grand old hymns or hallelujahs raise; 

I sit me down and list In sweet commune, 
And join, exultant. In the chanted praise. 

Oft do I listen as the bells in chime 

The hours tell, or ring the new year's 
birth ; 
Happy my greetings as In life's young time, 
Though soon I go from out this pleasant 
earth. 



Minor Chords 23 

I humble go the gravelled paths along, 

And quiet view my night's fast falling 
gloom ; 
Time distant teem the quick and jostling 
throng, 
Each rushing, reckless, to his certain doom. 

I walk among the crumbling stones revered, 
I tread me on the tear stained, worthy dust ; 

'Neath vernal sod, in grewsome depths in- 
terred. 
On sleep they fearless in their perfect trust. 

I know the story of each sturdy life. 

The careless morning and the day work 
prest, 

The ceasing in the even time from strife, 
The lying down at night to dreamless rest. 

I pause, ensaddened, where the frail one lies. 
Tear dimmed, mine eyes discern the time 
hid scroll, 
Man's baser passions breed but tears and 
sighs, 
A woman's heart doth faithless guard her 
soul. 



24 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Days gone, I feel the sea-spray sting my 
cheek, 

I valiant fight my ship, and in retreat, 
My glazing eye sees flying at the peak. 

My country's flag, unstruck e'en in defeat. 

Out from yon street come selfish, pompous 

men, 

Who, with their plenty, sway the world of 

greed; 

This simple shaft doth storey him, who, when 

His country reeled, upheld her in her need. 

I read the roll enscribed the martyred brave, 
I feel their hunger, and their thirst and 
pains. 
Their shackles bind me down, a tyrant's slave, 
And Lo ! They raise me up and break my 
chains. 

Fearless I dashed me through the doors of 
Hell 

My bleeding hands did batter open wide, 
Flaming I staggered out and, dying, fell, 

Content that for another I had died. 



Minor Chords 2$ 

I feeble scrawl my thoughts In words but few, 
The little task my tiring hand enblnds ; 

Here lleth he who graved for me and you, 
The thoughts enlightening of ten thousand 
minds. 

Here lieth joys, and loves, and hates, and 
woes. 
The woofs and warps of life's all colored 
weave ; 
The busy loom unceasing, clattering goes, 
Nor ever stops to broken threads retrieve. 

I look me on the struggling world beyond 
These shielding gates, and grateful here I 
stay. 

For here I lose me all my dread despond, 
And see apast my night a brighter day. 

Why haste ye on, why turn ye not aside, 
And meditative rest your tired soul? 

The glare of noon forgot in twilight tide, 
Let peace your striving heart console. 



IN MEMORIAM 

E. W. 

And one there was 
Whom God himself did loving make, and 

took 
Of all the qualities in Heaven found, 
And placed in fullest measure them in him 
Ere finished He his work: 

Heart kindliness 
To overflow; content unstrifed not e'en 
By troubles vast; and faith in fellow men, 
And love of them ne'er ceased by any lack 
Of faith of them ; and ever constant truth 
Untainted e'en by subterfuge: 

Courage 
Undaunted by such heavy loads and tasks 
As seldom men up take and not soon drop 
Exhausted from the strain: 
26 



Minor Chords 27 

Wisdom of life 
iWas his, yet quiet voiced: 

All these enwrapt 
Within a soul so clean, and strong, and clear 
As held them pure and showed them ever out 
To all who looked therein : 

His brow serene, 
Unruffled, ne'er gave out a sign of aught 
That secret cast him down, but pleasant smiles 
Forever played upon his face. 

Did one 
Astray from paths of righteousness, and 

scorn 
Of sneering men did fall upon such one, 
He reached his hand of loving mercy out. 
And to his proper way he did return 
Him back and held him there. 

But God did fear 
That men, him seeing, would wrong think of 

him 
That he an angel was, strayed from the bode 



28 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Of perfect beings, so, God, sorrowed, laid 
His hand of love upon him and did blight 
The man, but so, that through the mar did 

show 
The soul as never man did see the slight 
Deform. 



I LIE FACE DOWNWARD 

I lie face downward on the arid plain, 

I gouge mine eyes with gritting hands, and 

moan. 
And babble, and my swollen, parched black 

tongue 
Laves, choking, at the scorching sands to ease 
Its fevered thirst, and then I stumble on, 
With arms outstretched, in frenzied dreams, 

to reach 
The gush of cooling waters which I never 

find; 
And so I stagger ever on, miraged 
Unto my dismal doom. 

Long time ago 
I careless, idly, roamed the fertile vale. 
Hid in the circling midst of green-garbed 
hills. 



'> 



29; 



30 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Whose sun-warmed slopes were flush with 

ripened grapes 
Whose blood I drank, and ate my fill of all 
The plenteous yield of corn and luscious fruit; 
All in ungracious manner did I eat 
And drink, nor did I ever grateful think 
To thank the maker of mine ease that I 
Could roam untoiling, but did listen not 
To his wise counsel, He who ever was 
My friend, but went my way and gave me up 
To reckless romp, which, in the virtuous vale 
Became unsatisfying, and I longed 
To climb the hills and scale the guarding 

range 
Of higher mounts, and seek the ways beyond 
Of which so often was I told by some 
Who, from the outer place had sneering come 
Into the happy vale, and scorning laughed 
At the simplicity of mind of those 
Who quiet lived therein. 

But he did take 
My hand and placed it on the plough, and 

bade 
Me stay, and in low, loving words did plead 



Minor Chords 31 

With me, and earnest told of woe, and grief, 
Which ever was beyond the vale, and urged 
That I should stay, and do my work, and 

play 
Not more, and strove to hold me in his strong 
Embrace of love. 

And then I sullen grew, 
And from my gazing at the far-off haze, 
Which lay upon the mountain tops, I laid 
My furrows crooked when I listless ploughed, 
And barely touched the ground, and barren 

were 
The fields I worked, nor was reproof of such 
E'er made by him, save in his eyes the grief 
Did lie so deep, as when I now do think 
Of it, I tear my soul that I may feel 
The pain as penance done, yet would there 

come 
A gleam of righteous wrath that even I 
Did fear, and made me seek my hated task 
In greater haste. 

One time I, shirking, crept 
And climbed the hills and mounts, and wond'- 
ring looked 



32 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Down on the fields and plains outstretched 

to where 
The sky and earth do meet, so far It Is 
As are the earth and heaven apart, though It 
Doth look a little foot-pace, and I saw 
The glint of gold upon the ways, and heard 
The shouts and songs of merry-makers who 
Held out their hands enticing that I should 
Come down, but I went back to longing 

dream 
Of such a widened world of joy. 

And so 
One night, while all the vale toil-wearied 

slept, 
I rose, and without word of love or kiss 
To him, though In my hands I took his gifts 
And generous wage, I ran on through the 

gloom, 
Fast to the hills, and stumbling climbed the 

slopes 
And mountain sides; and In the pallid morn 
Ere day had wakened full, I clambered down, 
And In abandon, In my unpent joy, 
I careless shouted loud and joined me In 



Minor Chords 33 

The ribald songs, full voiced, and wandered 

on, 
And linked me arm in arm with royst'ring 

men, 
And women, fair, but wanton in their souls. 
Who staggering surged on towards the rim 
Which ever distant was. 

And for the while 
I gorged me on the earth's riotous yield 
Of fruits exotic, and of flaming grain 
Full swollen in the glare and heat of sun 
Out from a cloudless sky; and scattering 

threw 
In folly's path the little savings of 
His toil, which had been mine by his dear love 
And generous indulgence. 

Came a time 
The paths grew stony, and the fields untilled 
Were brown and bare; and then I fain would 

ask 
The ones around to give me, of their food. 
Some part to eat, but none had they with 

whom 



34 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

I strayed, but they too hungered, and did 

faint 
And fall down, screaming, in their famish- 
ment, 
Against the ones who stayed behind, within 
The place of excess joys, who now did urge 
Us sneering on, and who forbade us to 
Return, and who refused to give to us 
Even the husks which threw they to the swine, 
And laughed exultant at our dread distress. 
And, taunting, told us of the warning signs 
Which full displayed we passed, unseeing, in 
Our reckless run. 

And then I eager looked 
To find the path which led aback to where 
The low hills were, which, guarding, did sur- 
round 
The vale I crept out from, for I bethought 
That he would feed me, and I was so weak 
My tired legs could bear me but a while 
Ere I must fall: In vain I sought, the ways 
Went ever on, but all were barred behind, 
And though I strained my eyes to see the 
hills. 



Minor Chords 35; 

A heavy mist, whirled into dreadful shapes, 
By memory's constant swirl, did blurring hide 
All of the past except the hideous wraiths 
Of evil joys and doings wrong of mine 
Which failed my sight. 

And so I hapless went along, 
And stumbled on, and picked the bitter leaf 
And chewed it 'till I sickened grew, and then 
I spat it out, but now I'd eager take it back 
So strong doth hunger me beset. 

And then 
I came unto the sandy, scorching plain. 
Where nothing grows, and the hot sun doth 

seethe 
The blood within my veins and yet I must 
Go on, go ever struggling, straining on, 
For oft a little ways ahead I see 
My happy vale, and him with arms out- 
reached 
To take me and I stagger on, in joy, 
Till it does glimm'ring fade away, and but 
The glaring sands do lie around to mock me 
In my agony. 



36 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

The golden rim far lies, 
So far it is as when I looked it on 
The first, and yet I must go on, and on, 
Until I lie unrising, and the sun 
Will bleach my bones, and then the shifting 

sands 
Will drift me o'er and none will ever know 
That I was ever, which is best, for I ? 
Have not been good for being, but I pray 
In my small soul, that I may see again 
His face, love-lit as always was of old. 



THE SONG 

Long rows of storied tenements, red bricked 
And trimmed with brownish stone; roofs 

sizzling 
In the sun glare; blocks long of rock-paved 

streets 
Full teeming with the life of hapless men, 
Who, toiling, move in laggard, listless way, 
And labor, sweltering, in the scorching heat 
Of Summer day. 

Long streaks of gleaming rails, 
Tinkle of bell, and murmurings and cries. 
With clash of iron hoofs of straining brutes, 
And crash of steel-bound wheels. 

Windows wide ope'd 
To catch the faltering breathings of the air 
Redolent with the heavy sick'ning smells 
Of careless life. 

3.7 



38 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Rooms squalid; hallways deep 
Encrusted with thick dust ; walls plaster broke 
And cracked; 

Floors worn and dirt littered; doors 
Unhinged and falling down. 

Up from the dank 
Foul cellar, filled with rott'ning filth, high 

piled. 
And from the narrow chasm of the yard, 
Full strewn with out-throwings of the night, 
And from the oozy bottoms of the light 
Holes rise foul, stenchful odors. 

In the yard. 
Stone-flagged and hot, the drunkard, stupored 

lay, 
Sodden and purple-faced, and belched his 

breath. 
Out fetid with his groans. 

The little babe 
Lay dying in the stifling room and moaned 
Its tiny life away in fevered gasps, 
Whilst near the mother, sobbing, wrung her 

hands 
In grief. 



Minor Chords 39 

Born of the gentle South wind, 

blythe, 
The little zephyr lightly blew up towards 
The City stricken sore, and gay It fell 
On leaf and bud, and sported In the trees, 
Untroubled In Its happy play until 
It reached the hapless place of close abode, 
And then, In curious mood, It dropped, 
Into the yawning, gaping holes of yard, 
And darkened shafts and. Idly, entered in 
The windows and did rest upon the cheek 
The little babe did turn so grateful to Its 

touch. 
And cooling lay thereon and eased Its flush ; 
And then did sink so slow Into the yard 
Where lay the drunkard and did brush his lips 
Enparched; and then, deep sorrowed, heavily 
Uprose the sickened breeze and staggered 

out. 
Unhappy to the open plain far off, 

Out on the plain, sun scorched, brown 

grassed and seared. 
The tree, leaves listless, drooped 'neath sun's 

fierce heat, 
And eager longed for moving breath of air. 



40 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Out from the City, mind-wearied and sad, 
The poet, all unthemed, did come in strong 
Dispirit and did cast him, hapless down 
Beneath the tree, and plaintive dreary sang 
Unheard and all untuned, but soon he ceased 
(His song for very hate of that he sang 
iUnthemed. 

Out to the tree the zephyr came, 
Full burdened with its foulsome load of woe, 
[And dropped for ease upon each withering 

leaf 
'And rested gladly on each branch and limb 
So weighted down it was. 

Eager the tree 
Inhaled the poisoned air and grateful drank 
The foul breaths noxious of the little babe 
And drunken sot, and all the putridness 
The breeze did bear, and was refreshed by 

these. 
And yet did so relieve the zephyr that 
It merrily uprose and wafted on 
Again in joy. 



Minor Chords 41 

The tree, enlivened then 
Exhaled its freshened breath of sweet ozone; 
The poet drank deep draughts and then out- 
sang 
Exultant his new theme, and far his song 
Did reach, e'en to the City so far off, 
And did revive and cheer the people there. 
So that they were upheld and strengthened 

'till 
The cool of even came to cease the heat 
Of day. 

Loud did they praise the poet 
Who did sing their ease of strickened soul. 
And he did take their praise in gratitude 
That they had heard his song: 

But 'twas the song 
Of drunkard and of babe, and all the foul 
Odors, of tree and limb, and leaf and breeze. 
And dirt, all these did theme and tune the 

song 
And he but worded it. 



QUATRAINS 

POOR YORICK 

Alas, poor Yorick! Jester, clod and skull. 
How oft in life, he, kingly mirth provok- 
ing, 

Out of the grave a merry jest would'st cull, 
Now in it — ceases joking. 

DAUBER 

It's not so much that Dauber's wond'rous 
skilled. 
He, who depicts so truly woman's graces; 
His name is great, his purse is fatly filled, 
The secret is — he paints such speaking 
faces. 



.42! 



Minor Chords 43 

THE LIAR 

" I fear thee not," He cries to God and dares 

iTo dash a hand defiant in His angered 

face; 

But cowers, cringing, from man's puny 

stares, 

And shrinks a daylong world's disgrace. 

WOMEN 

" Let man save man and woman her own sex, 
And so is solved the saving question 
vex." 
Thus did she prate, with learning heavy 
crammed, 
I fear me much she wants all women 
damned. 

ALONE 

Man sinned so great a sin that God enraged 
Didst say, " Hell's torments cannot it 

atone, 
Let him live on unloved and all alone," 
And then God shuddered, all his wrath as- 
suaged. 



44 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

POLLY 

Dear Polly took from me, of mine, 
All that I had, yet I've no lack 

Of riches, for said she, " I'm thine," 
And so I got more back. 

A PROLOGUE 

"Sweet William and dear folk the shortened 

time 
I plead as excuse for my sorry rhyme, 
But In my theme sincere, I make me bold, 
And fear me not shouldst any seek to scold. 
Save that, perchance, I sing some wounding 

quip, 

And if't be so, forgive the unintentloned slip. 



IT'S KINDER HARD AND SICK'NING 

It's kinder hard and sick'ning, when yer wants 
ter go ter work, 
And yer looking 'round the City, fer ter get 
some kind er job, 
Ter have the folk look on yer as a loafer and 
er shirk, 
And ter say yer are a tramp. 
And ter think yer are a scamp, 
And ter watch yer just as if yer was er lay- 
ing low ter rob. 

Then you feel that yer er walking 

On that side of the street. 
Where the shade is spread on thickest, 

And the sun does never beat. 

It's kinder hard and sick'ning, when yer shoes 
are breaking out. 



45 



46 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

And yer hat is getting rusty, and er shine 
is on yer clothes, 
And yer feet are sore and swollen from walk- 
ing all about. 
And yer know fer er sure fact 
The coat that's on yer back 
Doesn't warm yer up a bit when the bitter 
cold wind blows. 

Then yer feel that yer er walking. 

On that side of the street, 
Where the shade is spread on thickest, 

And the sun does never beat. 

It's kinder hard and sick'ning, when yer look 
ercross the way, 
And yer see the crowds erwalking in the 
warm and bright sunshine. 
And the friends who used ter like yer ain't 
got er word ter say. 
Then yer feel er kinder lonely. 
And yer know that yer have only 
Got yerself to help yer on, and it ain't no 
use ter whine. 



Minor CHords "47! 

Then yer feel that yer er walking, 

On that side of the street, 
Where the shade is spread on thickest, 

And the sun does never beat. 

It's kinder hard and sick'ning when yer 
money is all spent, 
And yer feel er little weak and faint from 
living all too low, 
Yer legs are all er tremb'ling and yer knees 
are somehow bent, 
Yer kinder think when yer are sO' blue, 
God's got yer down and's kicking you. 
But If yer keep er going straight, yer'll get 
some kinder show. 

There'll come a time of brightening, 
The sun will shine so sweet, 

'Twill warm and be er lightening, 
Both sides of the street. 



SAT SHE IN THE SHADE 

Sat she in the shade ; I in the light : 

" You sent for me ? " 

" I sent for you, be my friend ! " 

My face was in the light; I smiled; 

"Oh, be my friend!" 

My heart was in the shade ; I sobbed, she 

heard me not; 

" Nay ! I cannot be your friend." 

Her face was in the dark; I heard her 

sigh; 

" I beseech you, be my friend ! " 
Her heart was in the light ; she wept : 
'Twas but yester-night she had wedded! 

him. 

I thought of him; again I smiled in the 

light, but in the darkness my heart raged; 
"Nay! I cannot be your friend." 
She moaned; " Be my friend! " 
My heart grieved but my lips laughed ; 
48, 



Minor Chords 49; 

" But he? " 

" I love him not ! " 

My face In the light frowned; my heart In 
the shadows smiled. 

" You didst wed him." 

"I love him not!" 

My heart throbbed exultant. 

" Nay ! I cannot be your friend." 

No word spoke she for a while. 

And so sat I, face lit and heart hid. 

** Be my friend, I love you ! " 

My heart pained with the joy of it; never 
before had she so said. 

" Be my friend, I love you ! " 

My face sneered ; she saw not my heart. 

" I cannot be your friend." 

Cried she; " Be my friend! " 

Out from the shadows reached she her 
arms full extended to me, inviting me, entic- 
ing me; arms that in my daring dreams, but 
never else, had embraced me In tightest hold. 

" I cannot be your friend." 

Out from the shade came she, out into the 
light; the woman of my love; the body of 
my desire; the soul of my craving; knelt she 



'50 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

down by me, and placed her head against me, 
and bore upon and enflamed me. 

" Be my friend, I love you, I love you ! " 

My heart tore from my bosom; my arms 
leaped to enfold her; my soul longed for her; 
pressed she down on me; her arms strained 
me to her; scorched was my cheek with her 
breathing; my heaven of love was a hell of 
passion. 

** Be my friend, I love you ! " 

Abrupt I rose: I flung her from me. I 
stood in the light; my heart was ht; my face 
smiled not. 

" I cannot be your friend, I love you ! " 

I waited not; out into the night I went; 
my hell of woe was a heaven of love. 

Back of me the light; there came a mur- 
mur, 

" Be my friend, I love you ! " 

Front of me the gloom. 

" I cannot be your friend, I love you ! " 



PRE-LIVES 

We are told, and we accept as truth, that 
within certain periods the material component 
parts of our body are entirely changed. That 
our body of to-day is entirely new from 
that of yesterday, taking yesterday as equiva- 
lent to the beginning of the accepted term of 
time of the first formation of the material 
atoms which make up the body, or the suc- 
cessive new form.ations thereof. 

I take it then that if we could dissect and 
disintegrate a child, after its weaning time, 
when it takes for its nourishment food other 
than its mother's milk, and label for identifi- 
cation each separate particle of Its material 
make up, and having done so could reassemble 
these atomic parts and continue the life ex- 
istence of that child, until the first day suc- 
ceeding the expiration of the period of such 
alleged renewal in entirety of such compo- 

5.1' 



52 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

nent parts, and could then again disintegrate 
the body particles, we would find none of the 
atoms we had labeled, but, in place thereof, 
other new atoms, similar perhaps, but with 
none of the constituent being of the previous 
ones. 

And so each day we enter on a new physical 
life though the renewing principle is so gentle 
In Its operation as to prevent a disastrously 
abrupt change. 

Having accepted this ascertained and Indis- 
putable fact, I find explained, to my reason- 
ing, many mysteries upon which many times 
have I pondered. 

How often do we, whose father and 
mother, the ones who gave us our first mate- 
rial, physical parts, were good people, do 
many things that are wrong. Men speak at 
such times, of such doings, of heritage, and 
not erroneously so, except that they lay the 
blame upon the parents or some lineal ances- 
tor of the depraved one. But this is contrary 
to the hypothesis based upon the before re- 
cited facts proven and accepted as true. If 
the component parts of the physical body of 



Minor Chords 53 

the wrong-doer have been entirely renewed, 
and if in the period of renewal such an one 
has not received from the physical make up of 
either parent who begat him any renewing 
sustenance, the culprit has not in him any 
part whatsoever of such parents. Therefore, 
how can it be said that his evil parts are re- 
ceived as a heritage from such parents or 
from such ancestors? Therefore, we must 
exonerate and acquit every parent for all the 
sins and wrong-doings of their offspring, done 
after the termination of the period of renewal 
in their children, subsequent to the time of the 
last nursing by the mother. 

To what, then, can we attribute the pro- 
pensity to evil. People, other than physicists, 
will say, environment, example, need, want, 
desires. But the physicist insists that phys- 
ical heritage is the primary cause, though they 
will allow that environment, necessity and de- 
sire sway and impel, if the physical heri- 
tage is not controlling over such. 

But physical heritage need not be held 
blamable for evil deeds alone, but must be 
thanked for good ones. Physical heritage 



54 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

must be granted the applause given to genius, 
the praise given to mentality, the rewards 
given to valor, though the begetters of the 
recipients of such honor were themselves ob- 
scure and undeserving of such glory. 

I walk and think in daytime of places in 
which I have never been ; I see faces I know 
whom never have I seen in this life; at night, 
in sleeping mood, I live many Uves and won- 
der at the strangeness of it. 

I feel the lust of the sensualist, the severity 
of the ascetic: I crave strong drink and recoil 
in horror from a glass of simple wine; I love, 
and in a while I hate the very thing I loved; 
I timid tremble, then I'm mad with fierce- 
ness. 

This is my physical inheritance, given me, 
not by the two of my natal time, but by the 
millions of all time who have been injected 
into my being by the power of the creative 
scheme. 

Nothing is lost. If this Universe, earth, 
sun, stars, planets, and the unknowns of crea- 
tion could have been weighed in the begin- 
ning, and we could know now to the last pen- 



Minor Chords 55 

nywelght of such weighing, to-day we would 
have only to place upon the scales up to that 
last pennyweight to balance all. 

The life-germ never dies. Like seeks like, 
and in union does its work; when that Is done 
they fall apart and each takes up work in new 
fields, In new unions. The stars in the heav- 
ens shall be counted In a moment, yet a cen- 
tury Is passed and the peoples that have lived 
upon the earth are still unnumbered. 

A pinch of dust, wet with creative moisture, 
a second's short time of existence, and again 
dust. This Is life. 

We take food-seeds and bury them deep 
in our life dust; these seeds, themselves, are 
formed of millions of particles of dust of mil- 
lions of lives. They open and take In of the 
life principles of the dust in which they lie, 
and push up and out to give renewed life to 
the man form of life. 

I eat of the food life formed from the dust 
life. My food life is garnered in every clime, 
in heat and cold, from north and south, from 
east and west. My food Is assimilated into 
my physical make up; my muscles are 



56 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

strengthened and increased; my brain is re- 
newed and Invigorated; Into my being goes 
the particles of the millions of lives which 
went Into the dust life, thence into the food 
life. 

I go out upon my daily walks; my limbs 
are aided by a million limbs; my arms have 
the strength of many who are concentred 
therein. My mind is actuated by the mind 
particles of all whose mind parts entered into 
the food life I have eaten. 

Do we not know that food seeds have been 
found lively after thousands of years of dor- 
mant condition? Has not active animal life 
been found encrusted in rock stratum of un- 
counted pre-existent periods? Do we not 
know that all we see and hear grooves In on 
our brain matter indelible impressions never 
to be removed? 

And so, when I lie down at night and 
slumber, with my limb movements ceased, do 
not the brain particles of my body, eased of 
their care and muscle actuation control, open 
up and reveal the impressions of their previ- 
ous existences? Else, why do I then wander 



Minor Chords 57 

under tropic suns or climb the ice fields of the 
northern climes? Why do I press the lips 
of some sweet gentle face I never knew, or 
throttle and stab some foe in hate and anger? 
iWhy do I roam in garden fields, careless and 
free, or lie shackled, a slave, In some foul 
prison den; why do I sail unknown seas, or 
ride triumphant into conquered towns; why 
am I saddened, fearful, happy, gay? 

Dreams, they call them, who know not else 
to say; lives, many lives, and I am simply the 
ever transitory depository of parts of each. 



EQUALITY 

In the beginning God created the earth. 
God made man and from man He made wo- 
man ; and to man and his woman gave He the 
earth and all that was upon the earth. 

And the man and the woman knew each 
other, and the woman labored and bore chil- 
dren, and the man and the woman multiplied 
and the earth was cumbered with many peo- 
ple. 

And the people of the earth builded 
thereon; high edifices reared they upon the 
earth; from the top of the esfrth took they 
their sustenance ; from the skins of the beasts 
of the fields took they their raiment; and from 
the pits of the earth took they their riches. 

And the people of the earth toiled unceas- 
ing, ay ! many toiled unceasingly, till from 
their brows ran down the sweat and nour- 
ished the earth, and they reeled tired from 
their toil; and the people of the earth ceased 
58 



Minor Chords 59 

not nor rested from their labor, and the tollers 
of the earth ate coarse bread and in the eat- 
ing hungered from the littleness of it and 
became as weak people, and their garments 
were tattered, and the skin of their feet be- 
came hard from walking. 

But some there were who toiled not, but 
throve upon the labor of the toilers of the 
earth: Yea! Kings and Rulers of the earth 
and rich men of the earth and their wives and 
their women. And the Kings and Rulers of 
the earth, and the rich men and their wives 
and their women, M^axed fat and fed on the 
plenty of the earth and were garbed in fine 
linen and in purple garments of silk; and the 
Kings and Rulers of the earth, and the rich 
men, and their wives, and their women 
laughed and were gay; but the toilers of the 
earth laughed not, and were not gay, but mur- 
mured and loud complained of their toil, and 
of the rich men and of the Kings and Rulers, 
and of the rich men and their wives and 
women, and cried out against the lack of 
things to eat. 

From the north and from the south, from 



6o Sun Time and Cloud Time 

the east and from the west, from the sky and 
out of the earth came strong winds and blew 
down the high edifices of the earth; and the 
people of the earth were scattered even to the 
ends of the earth and were as strangers one 
to the other; and the people of the earth 
were stripped naked of their garments even 
to their flesh, as they were when they were 
born, and the ruler in his nakedness was like 
unto his subject in his nakedness, and the 
rich man was like unto the poor man in his 
nakedness, and the people of the earth were 
like unto the other. 

And the people of the earth hungered, yea ! 
all the people of the earth hungered; and the 
people of the earth toiled and labored, yea! 
all the people of the earth toiled and labored 
unceasing that they might eat and be clothed. 
And the people of the earth with patience and 
with labor builded up, anew, high edifices, and 
the sweat of their brows watered the earth; 
and from the earth took they their sustenance, 
and with the skins of the beasts of the earth 
covered they their nakedness : yea ! the people 
of the earth toiled without rest and were 



Minor Chords 6 1 

tired, but toiled on even from the early hours 
of the morning until late hours of the night, 
and were lean and hungry. 

Came there a time. Aye ! Soon came there 
a time, and some toiled not nor labored but 
rested themselves in ease and ate of the earth's 
food in plenty, and were garbed in silks and 
satins, and were perfumed with rare spices; 
and soon did rise up rulers over the people of 
the earth, and rich men who took their riches 
from the labor of the people of the earth, and 
minded not the woe of the people of the earth 
but trod upon them as, in a wine-press, is trod- 
den the grape for the juice of it. 

And always the people of the earth labor 
and toil, and murmur and loud complain 
against those who toil not; and always come 
high winds, and all the people labor for a 
little while, but even so, in a day's time some 
labor not but live upon the labor of the peo- 
ple of the earth. 



THE BRAT 

The cold of the night black-dinged into the 
chill of the dawn gray; down through the air- 
hole stole the breaking light and crept into 
the rooms of the tenement. 

The brat moved uneasily on her floor bed, 
turned muttering, and sat up, digging the 
sleep from her drowsed eyes with her little 
fists; shivering, she stiffly rose and stretched 
her arms and legs, and yawned wearily, peer- 
ing, in the dim light, at the broken-handed 
clock upon the shelf. 

With a vicious kick at the brute, who lay 
in his drunken stupor, she stumbled into the 
other room which still was night dark, and, 
bending over, gently shook sister, sister, the 
toiler, who, in her sleep, threw off the disturb- 
ing hand ; again the brat shook sister, this time 
roughly,while she almost shouted in her ear, 
" Wake up ! " Wakened, sister lay, for a 

62; 



Minor Chords 63 

moment resentful, then heavy-eyed and weary, 
yawped and rose listlessly from her floor bed, 
and, putting on her skirt and waist, shambled 
out, her feet in unlaced shoes, into the cold, 
wind-swept hall, to the sink and doused her 
face and hands with the icy water, using her 
petticoat, which for warmth had been her 
night gown, as a towel. 

The brat lighted the oil stove, for the coal 
fire of the cook stove never lasted the night 
through; from the shelf over the table she 
took down the battered, ever partly filled, tin 
teapot, reaching it by standing on the broken 
chair, and after looking in it to see if there 
was enough of the last night's steeping, 
placed it on the wick flame, for a moment 
holding her hands near for the grateful heat. 

Down from the same shelf, the brat took 
a half loaf of day before yesterday's bread, 
and with a large table knife cut three thick 
slices from it. Sullenly sister sat down and 
began crumbling the bread and eating it; the 
brat poured out a cup of almost white but 
steaming tea, which sister eagerly gulped 
down without milk or sugar. 



64 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

The brat, who had sat silent, now said: 
" Where'd yer go last night? " 

" Up ter Mamie Ryan's," said sister, put- 
ting a crust of bread in the tea to soften it. 

"No, yer didn't! " and the brat spat the 
words out. 

" Then I lie ! " said sister, flaring up and 
slamming the empty cup down on the table; 
the brat carefully took it up and looked at it; 
it was cracked, but it was an old break, and 
so she filled it up again. 

*' Mary Ryan was here last night," the brat 
said, coldly eyeing sister. 

" My God ! " and sister looked fearfully 
over to where the mother lay, sleeping near 
the coal stove, with baby in her arms. 

" She didn't come up ; " the brat pushed the 
last of the cut slices over to sister; " I heard 
her in the hall, and went down and told her 
yer was out, and so she went along." 

Sister's face brightened; "Oh! yer all 
right, brat," and the rehef in her voice was 
intense. 

" Where'd yer go? " urged the brat again; 
" Oh! I was out with a lady friend," and sis- 



Minor Chords 6^ 

ter drank down the last of the second cup of 
tea. 

" Who was she ? " and the brat cut another 
sHce of bread, much thinner than sister's, and 
poured a little, just a little of the tea into 
sister's cup and made a sop of the bread, eat- 
ing it with a spoon ; it was hot and tasted good 
and the little eyes looked longingly at the 
remainder of the bread, but up it went on the 
shelf, and out went the flame of the stove. 

" No one youse knows," but sister hesi- 
tated, " she used ter work down in the shop, 
but she's got er better job now in a restaurant, 
and she wears swell clothes. My ! Her hat's 
got er feather that goes all around it, her gen- 
tleman friend gave it ter her, he sits at her 
table every day and gives her a lot of things." 

" My ! But he must be a good thing ! " the 
brat spoke in wonder struck tones. 

" Sure he is," said sister, " why he blew 
in five dollars last night just because we were 
with him, him and his friend spent nearly ten 
dollars; I tell yer they are swell all right," 
and sister's eyes glistened with the memory 
of the glory of the doings of the night before. 



66 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

" Did yer go out with a fellar? " the brat 
spoke hard; " Jim came down last night and 
mother told him yer was up ter Mamie's; I 
hears Mamie talking to Mrs. Flynn and so I 
sneaks down and gets her away before Jim 
sees her and knows yer doing him." 

"I ain't doing Jim," and sister pouted; 
" only I wants some fun and Jim's too 
stingy." 

" Yer wrong there, and yer knows yer are," 
the brat's head shook with determination; 
" don't he take yer out somewheres every Sat- 
urday night, and every Sunday In the summer ; 
he blows too much on yer, mother told him 
so last night:" the brat sat down as though 
this was a final determination of that ques- 
tion. 

" Gee, did mother tell him that? He 
won't want ter do nothing now except to save 
up ter get married ; Well ! Let him save up 
and I'll have a good time with some one else." 

" And then he'll marry some other girl,'* 
the brat's head wagged wisely, " Jim's no 
chump." 

" Well, then, I'll mn rry some other feller," 



Minor Chords 67 

and sister's pug nose went up the little pos- 
sible bit more. 

"Yer er fool," said the brat; "Jim's 
straight with yer and he's stuck on yer. What 
made yer run upstairs so quick fer last night? 
I heard yer, anybody chase yer or did yer 
gentleman friend get fresh with yer?" and 
the shrewd little face darkened. 

" Yer mind yer own business! " but sister 
flushed up and her eyes wavered before the 
brat's steady look, " no one can get fresh 
with me." 

*' Did he try ter? " the little inquisitor was 
watching sister too closely for evasion. 

" Well, he had a lot of drinks and tried, 
but I guess he won't ever again." Sister 
tried to speak lightly but her face frowned. 

" Jim never tried to do anything like that, 
did he? " the brat spoke quietly, and looked at 
the clock. 

" Jim ! Why, Jim wouldn't even try ter 
kiss me ! " and sister laughed. 

Quick as a flash the brat darted at her sis- 
ter and grabbed her fiercely by the arm. 

" What did that feller try ter do ter yer 



68 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

last night?" and her piping voice was loud 
and shrill. 

"Shut up, yer brat!" But sister's voice 
was tremulous, " yer'll wake mother up. It's 
none of yer business what anyone does ter 
me." 

" Oh ! That's how yer friend gets her line 
hat and dresses, is it?" The scorn of the 
brat's words was accented by her hard tones; 
" just the same as Maggie Mulligan got hers. 
I'm going ter tell mother and Jim." 

"God! Don't do that," sister's voice 
broke, " I don't want any more of him. He 
didn't do nothing, honest ter God, I broke 
away from him and I won't ever see him 
again, but don't tell mother and don't tell 
Jim. Yer won't, will yer, brat? " sister was 
white-faced and peaked in her pleading. 

" Yer going ter give Jim up? " the brat's 
mouth was set. 

" Give him up ! not on yer life, he's the best 
one I know." 

The brat leaned forward to see if the sin- 
cerity of the voice showed in the sister's face, 
and, satisfied, sat back on her chair saying, 



Minor Chords '69 

" That's right, I won't say nothing, but yer'll 
be late," and then, as sister clambered down 
the rickety stairs, she cried out: "Jim's com- 
ing up ternight," and, with another kick at the 
brute, she lay down in sister's bed which was 
nearer the still warm cook stove. 

The light broadened and the sun-gleam 
brightened up the rooms. The brute grunted, 
sat up, and cursing and maundering went 
stumbling, and staggering out, the brat watch- 
ing him, though she seemed to be asleep. 

Then the little babe awoke and mother, 
wakened by its cries, put It to her breast. 

"Where's Mamie?" mother said to the 
brat. 

" Gone ter work," and the brat snuggled up 
and closed her eyes. 

" What time did she get home last night? " 

The brat thought a moment and said, 
" About twelve o'clock." 

" What business has she ter stay out on the 
streets until twelve o'clock. I'll warm her 
when she comes home ternight ! " mother 
spoke so vigorously that baby lost its hold 
and cried again. 



70 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

" Yer better not, mother," the brat spoke 
slowly, " she might stay out all the time if 
yer did that." 

"Shut up, yer brat! I'd like ter know 
where yer gets all yer knowings from. Yer 
knows now more than I do." 

The brat laughed and, while she wondered 
what mother would do did she but know that 
it had been two o'clock when sister had come 
home, she only said: " Shall I make the tea 
fer yer? " 

" Sure," said mother; "then yer can take 
the baby, for I've got ter finish Mrs. Law- 
rence's wash this morning." 

" Oh ! but I've got ter go ter school this 
morning," said the brat; " teacher's going ter 
have some flowers there ter day and is going 
ter give us each one, and I wants ter get 
mine." 

" Yer'll get no flowers ter day, fer yer can't 
go ter school. Yer'll have ter mind the 
baby." 

The brat's eyes filled with tears; "Oh! 
mother, — " 



Minor Chords 71 

" Now, no oh, mothering me, and stop yer 
bellering or I'll make yer beller; take the baby 
now." 

The brat, heavy-hearted and sorrowing, 
took the little one; and then in her love for 
baby and with the instinctive mother feeling 
began to croon to it, until, as the hours went 
and it was past school time, the baby's crow- 
ing and laughing, and her own little mother 
talk, eased the pain of her heart. The room 
became filled with steam from the wash 
boiler, and so the brat said " Mother, can I 
take baby down ter the yard?" 

" Put the coat on her and be careful," and 
mother lifted a big stickful of hot clothes 
from the boiler into the tub. 

Happily, the brat put the tiny arms in the 
baby sack and buttoned it up closely, and tied 
the little stringed cap on baby's head, and 
then, putting on her own coat and hat, started 
for the stairs. 

Mother shouted, " Be careful, now, yer 
brat!" 

The brat smiled at the idea of mother or 



72 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

any one telling her to be careful with baby, 
her own little sister, whom she so loved, and 
started down the creaking stairway. 

Once upon a time, when the house was new, 
the landlord had put carpet on the stairs, but 
that was so long ago that the only traces of 
such carpets were a fluff here, and a string 
there, where the trampling feet had not 
scuffed It away entirely. 

The brat, holding baby In her arms, and 
singing a little school song, got nearly to the 
bottom of the first flight of stairs down, when, 
as she stepped forward, her foot caught in a 
fluttering ribbon of this tattered carpet, and, 
as she strove to recover herself, the baby 
pitched forward, and In that moment entered 
into the soul of the brat the courage and 
devotion that God gives only to brave, hon- 
est, clean lives. 

As she tottered she clutched baby tightly In 
her two, strong, little arms and, with a des- 
perate twist and swing of her body, turned so 
that, as she fell, the baby was on top. 

The crash of the fall and the howls of the 
baby were heard throughout the house; 



Minor Chords 73' 

mother ran down the stair flight, while Mrs. 
Flynn, who hved on the floor below, came 
hurrying up. 

Mother picked up the crying baby, and 
then, as she found baby was unhurt, she turned 
fiercely around and shouted out : " Yer 
damned brat! " but Mrs. Flynn, bending over 
to help up the brat, gave a cry, and sank on 
her knees, hands telling her beads, and over, 
and over saying, " Jesus, Mary." 



MULLANEY 

If you have left one little bit of the sense 
with which you were born, you will never 
tamper with the temper of the tools with 
which you work. Mullaney did, and this 
day, the long wagon with the black plumes 
went past the truck house, and the men lined 
up on the sidewalk outside, with the team 
hooked up, while the bell rang soft and slow. 
Mullaney didn't care, for his troubles were 
all gone, and he was off duty forever; but if 
he hadn't banged the jigger on that night 
he might have been with the procession com- 
ing back as well as going out to Calvary. 

A Tool is a funny thing with no bit of hu- 
manity in its make-up. You can lie in your 
chum's bed and he'll curse the woman and 
still be your friend; you can do your bunkie 
dirt and rub it in 'till it's a running sore, and 
yet, some day, when you're out between the 
74 



Minor Chords 75 

rallying fire line and the reds, with a bullet In 
you keeping you there, he'll come out for you 
into the dust clouds raised by the tearing lead, 
and take you back to life. You can sneak 
and tell on your company men and be a 
stranger in their midst for years, and still, some 
night, when you've been hit by a back draught, 
or have gone down Into hell through the 
roof they'll come In for you, even though they 
stay there with you; but, if you do a nasty 
turn to the tool you must work with, you had 
better leave the job and take up labor that is 
new. 

Sometime, long ago forgotten by you, when 
the Sergeant called you down, for cause or 
otherwise. In your mad you banged the breech- 
lock of your gun In petty spite; Heaven help 
you ! Some day when you're out in a brush 
with the Indians and that gun is the only bar 
to death and torture, that breech will remem- 
ber your blow and will jam itself, and 
your name will be marked " Discharged," 
*' Dead," on the rolls. In the cold when your 
coupling hose and the hub sticks, you peev- 
ishly give the rimmer an extra hard twist and 



(]6 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

wrench a thread ; better for you to have stayed 
on the truck, for some night, when you're 
choked with smoke, and the fire is all around 
you, and the water from that pipe is the only 
shield between the flames and you, something 
will give way, down back on the line, and 
when they get you 'twill be only a char and 
a badge to tell just who it is, with perhaps a 
button or two that the heat couldn't eat up. 

Mullaney should have known better. Any 
one who, as a kid, rode on the fuel wagon, 
and as a youngster helped the first companies 
stretch in, before the cops formed the fire- 
lines and drove him back, any one who had 
hung on the chains and knew the stations by 
heart should have had more sense, but he 
didn't and so he went to the yard to-day. 
The trouble was that Mullaney had but two 
faults; he had a hot temper and was pig- 
headed; no one could make him do what he 
did not want to do or stop him from doing 
what he had set out to do; otherwise he was 
all right, except that he had no schooling other 
than what is picked up in the streets and on 
the docks and, afterwards, in the gin-mills. 



Minor Chords 77^ 

His mother, Widow Mullaney, who cleaned 
up in the public buildings, had no education 
either, but she knew the value of it and tried 
to keep Mullaney at school, but he didn't take 
to it, and he had his father's way about him, 
and his father, who died when he was young, 
had had his own way, and so the widow let 
Mullaney have his own way, which was a bad 
way, for the widow and for Mullaney. 

Mullaney helped in politics. Mullaney Is 
now dead, and far be it from me to say of 
the dead anything that is not good. There 
are enough left in life to howl about without 
reaching out for the dead ones. Still there 
were many things that Mullaney did for his 
leader of which, if he were alive, I would 
show my disapproval. If a man who is only 
twenty-three when he dies, has cast forty 
or more votes, and the election officials take 
no notice of such doings, I am sure I am not 
going out of my way to arraign that man for 
the doing of it. Mullaney had to do some- 
thing to get solid. If a man has to work, 
sweatingly, for fifteen minutes on the writing 
of his own name, he has got to work other 



78 Sun Time and Cloud Tim€ 1 

ways, In these Civil Service days, to get any 
kind of an appointment. A man who has 
been to school can figure out a problem one 
way, while the man who has no schooling has 
to figure by his own methods. Mullaney 
told me once, when he had a confidential feel- 
ing on, that, had he known how to work out 
a sum of three figures on white paper, he 
would not have had to give out a sum of 
three figures in green paper, a remark that 
ever since has puzzled me. 

Mullaney was about twenty-one when he 
was appointed to the fire work. If he was 
a little less, what matters it. It is easier to 
get a man appointed as one of a batch than 
when only one or two vacancies exist, and 
what's the odds on a month or two ; the Civil 
Service rules get worse every day, and there's 
danger In delay. 

Mullaney wanted the job badly. As I said 
before, outside of his two bad faults Mullaney 
was all right and he was a good son; Mrs. 
Mullaney said that, and no mother would say 
so if it were not so, especially If that son was 
the only one. Mullaney never used his 



Minor Chords 79 

mother badly; if he got drunk he'd sleep it 
off somewheres else, and he never hit her at 
all, which is a mighty good record. There's 
mighty few mothers whose sons treat them as 
well as did Mullaney act towards the widow ; 
if he worked he'd always give her some of his 
wages, and he could see that she wasn't as 
strong as she used to be. Scrubbing floors 
is not conducive to good health and washing 
windows as a steady operation wears one out, 
and Mrs. Mullaney was getting done; Mul- 
laney saw it and said he wanted to help the 
old woman. Then Mullaney was a buff and 
he would rather hang around the engine house 
than McCoys; McCoys was the booze shop 
on the corner of Varick Street; of course Mul- 
laney didn't leave the gang altogether, but he 
liked to be near the house if a station hit in, so 
that, if it was a " go," he could ride out on 
the tender with the men. 

Down in my heart I believe, and in fact I 
know, that the real reason of Mullaney's de- 
sire to get in the Department was Kitty Reilly 
who lived down in Greenwich Street and 
whose father was Mullaney's boss — when he 



8o Sun Time and Cloud Time 

worked. Old man Rellly had two trucks and 
a nice little home. Kitty went to St. Alphon- 
sus' and knew Mrs. Mullaney very well; in 
fact, it was well known, that. If Mrs. Mul- 
laney, before she became Mrs. Mullaney, had 
said the right word her name would have been 
Mrs. Reilly instead; and of course Mr. Reilly 
had a soft spot for Mullaney, and Mrs. Mul- 
laney and Kitty were great friends. 

Kitty and Mullaney had played together 
as kids and had gone out together to parties 
when they got beyond kiddom ; it was at these 
balls and parties that Mullaney's hot temper 
used to break out; If Kitty danced or talked 
with any one else but him, he'd go over to the 
bar room and load up, and Kitty would go 
home with Mrs. Mullaney or some other re- 
spectable married lady and wouldn't speak to 
Mullaney for a week, or a day, or for just so 
long as Mullaney stayed away before sneak- 
ing around for forgiveness, for Kitty was an 
Irish girl, and was good and blameless; every- 
body said that, even Tommy Ryan who al- 
ways said " One woman's like another one, 
only worse'n." Tommy was somewhat justi- 



Minor Chords 8i 

fied in his strong views on women; Ryan was 
his name but he never knew just who was his 
father; and Tessie, his wife, was so terribly 
shocked one night by his unexpected return 
home, that she wandered out in the dark, and 
to the bad, and landed in the Morgue within 
a year, while the man is still living a respect- 
able life somewheres unknown to Tommy. 
Yet Tommy said of Kitty " She's straight." 

I guess it was Mrs. Mullaney's stocking 
that gave up the green paper with the three 
figures on it that aided in getting his appoint- 
ment for Mullaney; she never trusted the 
banks, and so every little saving was carefully 
put away in that piece of woman's apparel 
that is always bettered by being well-filled, 
whether the filling be green paper, or — filhng 
of the proper kind. 

It was a proud day for Mrs. Mullaney 
when her boy came home in his blue clothes 
with the red lining and the silver buttons; 
Kitty was there, and a dozen others, neigh- 
bors, and Mrs. Mullaney sent down for pint 
after pint to wet the new clothes; and then 
Mullaney took Kitty home, and old man 



82 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Reilly, who was laid up by the rheumatism 
for the day, said, " It's a foine job, me boy. 
It's a foine job! " Old man Reilly ran with 
the same machine as did old man MuUaney in 
the by-gone lire days, and many the story had 
he told the youngsters of the Volunteer times. 
Old man Reilly had a bit of a pull with the 
Boss of the district and so he got the Boss 
to get the Commissioner to get the Chief to 
send Mullaney down to 30's, because it was 
near Mullaney's home, and because it was 
near old man Reilly's home; you see old man 
Reilly wanted to have Mullaney near him; 
perhaps I am wrong, and may be it was Kitty 
who wanted Mullaney near her, but it was 
one or the other. Old man Reilly meant It 
in kindness to Mullaney and to Kitty, but it 
was a wrong doing for both of them. It's a 
very bad thing for a man to wear the gloss 
off his uniform among friends. If the cub 
gets a swelled head from his job his friends 
get sore; If he is a good fellow with the boys 
he gets in over his head and has hard swim- 
ming to get back and out. It Is better that 



Minor Chords 8;^: 

strangers get sore on you for being stuck up, 
and it is better that you make a swine of your- 
self amid unknown people; for the loss of 
friendship of unknowns, and of strangers, 
don't count like the loss of old friends; old 
friends are good property to hang on to and 
the man who throws such away gives up a 
God-given heritage. 

Mullaney didn't get stuck up, but the crew 
of 30's were boozers; and the Captain was 
the greatest boozer of them all, but they were 
fire-eaters from first stroke to return taps. 
Captain Phelan was sent home from a work- 
ing fire once as being too sober to be fit for 
duty, and it was to this crew that Mullaney, 
who, himself, could hit up the drink pretty 
well, was sent to be broken in to his new job. 

30's was a single company and from it's 
house in Spring Street it covered a lot of ter- 
ritory and was a hard-worked crew. It's 
rival was 24's, in Morton Street, a company 
somewhat different in many ways from 30's; 
Captain McLoughlin of 24's was a stickler 
for discipline, yet a good fireman and a just 



84 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

boss. The slogan of 30's crew was " Fire 
and Booze," while 24's motto was " Fire the 
Boozer." 

Mullaney never chummed with any one 
specially, but Jim Grady and he had been 
pretty near to being pals. Mullaney's two 
faults prevented any one from being real 
friendly, yet every one had a good word for 
him. Jim was different from Mullaney, be- 
sides being two years older; Jim's father was 
a friend of the boss and ran a district for 
him; Jim wasn't pig-headed like Mullaney, 
and so, when his father licked him for not go- 
ing to school, he went, and got through 
with it. 

Jim's father had a job as foreman over a 
gang in the " Sewers," and when Jim left 
school the boss got him a place on the time 
sheet; and Jim kept going along until he was 
twenty-one, when he took the Fire Examina- 
tion and landed near the top of the list. It 
is just possible that Jim's schooling was all 
that put him there, and then again, it is possi- 
ble Jim had to do some figuring as did Mul- 
laney, though I think that Jim's father's pull 



Minor Chords 85 

with the boss saved some of the figures on the 
green paper, for, no matter what your school- 
ing or your pull, the green paper figures weigh 
in the average result of examination and ap- 
pointment. 

Jim's father was wise, and Jim had some 
of his father's wisdom. The old man did 
not vote the Prohibition ticket, but he never 
took two drinks at the same time, and but sel- 
dom took one. Jim didn't take booze at 
all; at meals he'd take a glass of beer, if he 
felt like it, but he stopped at that. When 
Jim's father heard that Jim was to be sent 
to 30's he went to the Boss and asked him to 
have Jim sent to 24's; this was duly done, 
which shows what a wonderful man is a Boss. 

Jim had known Kitty almost as long as had 
'Mullaney, but not so well. Jim's mother 
died when he was a kid, and he and the old 
man had dug along together. Jim was not 
so popular with the gang at McCoys as was 
Mullaney; they didn't think much of him, for 
he didn't spend his money, or blow like other 
men. Father Cummings of St. Alphonsus 
liked Jim and knew how some of Jim's money 



86 iSun Time and Cloud Time 

was blown and spent, but Father Cummings 
wouldn't tell and the poor box is mute. The 
gang knew that when the hat was passed 
around for any good reason, Jim would sling 
in his bit, and it always was a good bit, but 
that didn't count with that crowd. 

Jim was stuck on Kitty, and she and Mul- 
laney and every one else knew it, but Jim and 
Mullaney and most everybody knew that Jim 
had no kind of a chance; yet, even while they 
palled, and while Jim was trying to push Mul- 
laney through the examinations, Mullaney 
would flare up and get hot about Jim's lik- 
ing Kitty; Jim got used to it and waited until 
Mullaney cooled down and then Jim would 
roast Mullaney for his mean suspicions. Jim 
used to meet Kitty and Mullaney at the dif- 
ferent rackets, and two or three of MuUaney's 
quarrels with Kitty were over Jim, which was 
very foolish, because Kitty was a good girl, 
and Jim was a man who would never " do " 
a friend. 

Kitty had agreed that as soon as Mullaney 
got appointed and got settled In his new job 
she'd marry him, and on the day he went to 



Minor Chords 87 

work with 30's the time was set for six months 
later. Mullaney had but little to learn of 
the practical part of the business. The fire 
work was old to him, but it was a trifle labori- 
ous to do the book work when on house 
watch, though he managed to pass the not 
over critical eye of Captain Phelan. 

If ever there was a gang that guzzled, it 
was that crew of 30's. Mullaney, at first, 
went at it easy, but it was not long before he 
could take his with the best of them and it 
began to tell. Jim saw but little of him, 
while Kitty, with innate modesty, kept away 
from the house and saw Mullaney only at his 
best, which meant only at his soberest. Poor 
Mother Mullaney saw him at his worst, 
which was his drunkenest, and scolded him, 
which only made him hit it up harder; then 
the old woman went to Jim, and Jim, who 
had heard of MuUaney's boozing, took one 
of his days off, and went down to Mullaney, 
and gave him some good advice, which was 
duly resented, and Jim got mad at MuUaney's 
talk and went off with a hard look, and a 
harder feeling toward Mullaney, for he was 



88 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

thinking of Kitty and the life before her if it 
went on, and he was a sorely tempted man, 
for he knew that, next to Mullaney, Kitty 
liked him more than any other man. 

Jim Grady was a good sleeper; he went to 
bunk at ten o'clock every night, if he could, 
while on duty; and every time he jumped for 
the pole while only half-awake, he would 
curse the man who started the fire, the man 
who pulled the box, and the man at head- 
quarters who transmitted the station, but the 
night after he had had his talk with Mullaney 
he lay awake till morning, tossing and tumb- 
ling, fighting a fight and the good in him won 
out. 

On his way to breakfast that morning he 
stopped at Old Man Reilly's and looked Kitty 
square in the face, saying, " Kitty! Mul- 
laney is boozing! He'll lose his job and his 
life, if he don't quit it." Kitty was scared 
and looked at him with white face. " Oh, 
Jim ! What shall I do ? " Jim gritted his 
teeth hard, " Marry him to-morrow if he will 
take the pledge," and then he hurried away. 



Minor Chords 89 

with sorrow and grief in his heart which was 
full of love for Kitty, who, as she closed the 
door, said, " Poor Jim," wonderingly to her- 
self. 

Kitty knew Mullaney was on house watch, 
and, after crying her cry out, she dressed be- 
comingly, as should a woman who is about 
to meet her lover's friends, and walked fear- 
fully around to 30's house. Mullaney was 
hanging on the chain, scowling at himself and 
with his head jumping and hammering, for 
Jim's words and talk had caused him to drink 
but the more; twice during the night he had 
not hit the floor until the horses were being 
turned back, and Captain Phelan, who could 
not stand for that, had warned him that a 
third break would send him up on charges. 

Kitty was not a jollier and she went at him 
without gloves; she told him in language not 
exactly sweet or kind, that he was getting to 
be a " Lush," and that the booze was making 
a " Bum " of him; she further said, that she 
would never marry a lush or a bum, and, if 
he wanted her as a wife, he would have to do 



90 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

three things: Get transferred from 30's, go 
with her to Father Cummlngs and take the 
pledge, and marry her that week. 

Mullaney went up In the air; he called 
Kitty down for coming near the house; he 
called her down for coming near him; he 
called Jim down for being a sneak, at which 
last Kitty got mad and said Jim was worth 
two Mullaneys, which she herself didn't think 
or believe; Mullaney went red and white, and 
told Kitty to " Get the hell away from here," 
and Kitty went away with her heart breaking, 
but her nose up in the air. Then Mullaney 
took a chance and sneaked over to McCoys 
and gulped down two good hookers, and got 
back to the house just in time to take a station, 
which was lucky, as it was one the company 
was first due at, and Captain Phelan's only 
joy, other than boozing, lay in getting first 
water whether he was or was not entitled to 
it, and he never forgave a man who fumbled 
or tangled the harness, or who, in any way, 
delayed the company on a run. 

It was a working fire that morning, and 
Murphy, who was on the pipe with Mullaney, 



Minor Chords 91 

went down and out when the roof fell, and 
MuUaney was in St. Vincent's for three weeks, 
and when he came out he had not as much 
hair on his face as a week old baby. Mur- 
phy went by the Engine House in the black 
wagon, just as Mullaney did to-day, but it 
was a shame, for Murphy had no trouble, and 
it was not a blessing to him as it was to Mul- 
laney. 

Kitty spent part of every day at Mullaney's 
bedside in the hospital; but Jim only came 
once, for Mullaney was sore and Jim knew it, 
and had expected that Mullaney would think 
wrong of his telling Kitty, but Jim, once his 
mind was made up, never backed out. 

A week after Mullaney got back into serv- 
ice he was sent to 8 Truck In North Moore 
Street. The crew of 8's were a happy me- 
dium between 24's and 30's. There were no 
cranks in 8's company but Captain Hughes 
would stand for no boozing in hours or in the 
house ; the men were older and mostly family 
men; a kid or two is almost as good as a 
pledge to some men, and as for the women, a 
child has kept many a one straight. 



92 iSun Time and Cloud Time 

Mullaney went with Kitty to Father Cum- 
mings and signed the pledge and was blessed 
by the good Father. Kitty was happy; and 
then began the work of the days before the 
wedding. How happy would the world be 
if the before days could be the after ones as 
well. 

It was a good time that they all had at 
Old Man Reilly's house that night. Kitty's 
father set up a fine feed for them all, with 
lots of the good stuff for those who wanted it, 
for, just because you don't want your man to 
drink is no reason why you should insist on 
everybody cutting it out. They danced and 
sang all night and there was a big crowd 
there. The Boss showed himself, and kissed 
Kitty, which looked well for MuUaney's fu- 
ture; some of the Truck men dropped in; all 
of 30's crew were there at odd moments, for 
there was free booze to be had within run- 
ning distance of the Engine House and the 
Captain let them off once each, and they them- 
selves, each took off several times during the 
night; luckily, not a station hit in and the 
Captain never said a word. 



Minor Chords 93 

Two or three of the boys in 24's came 
down, and Jim, who Kitty personally invited, 
sent a present, but stayed away because Mul- 
laney's sore still ran and wouldn't heal. Jim 
never went where he was not wanted; Kitty 
felt sorry and cried a little, which was a bad 
sign for a bride. 

Kitty went to live with Mrs. Mullaney, 
which left Old Man Reilly very lonely, 
though not for long, for one day he turned a 
corner overquick and landed on his head and 
died just after the Priest came. It was but a 
short time after this that Kitty woke one night 
and found old mother Mullaney gasping, 
choking, and red in the face, and Mullaney 
got around only just in time to see his 
mother die. And so Kitty and Mullaney 
were left alone to themselves and with their 
sorrow. 

Mullaney had kept his pledge up to this 
time, but that night he took a drink and kept 
at it until after the funeral. Kitty, who was 
full of woe and grief over her father and old 
lady Mullaney, said nothing, like the wise lit- 
tle woman she had grown to be, until it was 



94 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

all over, and then she again made him sign the 
pledge. 

Mullaney tried hard to keep off the stuff, 
and did so for over three months; Kitty- 
wanted him to do so and he'd do anything for 
Kitty just now, for Kitty was working on 
clothes too small for either she or he, and 
Kitty had told him about something that 
would soon happen in his home. 

Booze is a queer sort of thing. I've 
known men to drink their pint a day and live 
good. God-fearing lives, and die at the age 
of ninety, mourned and beloved by genera- 
tions of men. I've known men who have 
gone to hell in less than a year's time with 
only a few glasses to their account. Mul- 
laney's ancestors must have given him a bad 
stomach and a worse head, for just a few 
drinks and he was gone — saw blue flickers 
and then red glare. 

A little while before the babe was born, a 
few days, Mullaney took just one; he never 
knew why he did. The truck had not been 
out for two days ; the work was easy, and the 
weather could not have been better. Per- 



Minor Chords 95 

haps it was because of the easy work; per- 
haps it was because of Kitty and the expected 
event; perhaps — at any rate, he took the one 
with Denny SuUivan, the Cop on the house 
post, and then he took four or five with him- 
self. There is more hope of Paradise for 
one on the farther side of Purgatory than 
there is for the man who drinks alone with 
only himself as a good fellow. 

That night he had the last watch, and when 
a go rang in he was asleep when the men hit 
the floor, and then began the hell of Mul- 
laney's life, that, so far as earth is concerned, 
ended to-day. It wasn't the first catch, but it 
was the worst, and so his Captain pounded 
him and he got three days' fine. It is not the 
pay loss that counts so much; it's the blot on 
the record telling against promotion ; and with 
Mullaney it was Kitty, for Kitty learned of 
it through the wives of the fool men who 
told their wives. 

Kitty worried and cried over it, and over 
the little one who had come and grew pale 
and wan. Mullaney got sullen and sore and 
kept drinking and drinking, while Jim, who 



g6 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

was now an assistant foreman, heard all of it 
and looked on from a far off with aching 
heart, unable to interfere now that Kitty was 
a wife. 

Mullaney and Kitty were living now on the 
corner of Dominick and Hudson Streets in 
an old fashioned roomy tenement, on the top 
floor. Kitty had made a nice place out of the 
effects of her home and Mrs. Mullaney's 
rooms, and Mullaney was very proud of her 
and of it. When the little one was christened 
after him he braced up for a week or two and 
Kitty took courage and hoped again that he 
would straighten out. 

There is an alarm box on the corner of 
Dominick and Hudson Streets, the station 
number of which is eighty. 8 Truck is the 
first hook and ladder due there and 30 Engine 
is the first company to arrive. Mullaney was 
glad the box was there and that 30's was only 
two blocks away, and down in the truck house, 
if a station, ringing in, started with an eight 
his heart leaped to his mouth until it com- 
pleted the call. The other companies due at 



Minor Chords f)^ 

box eighty were 13's and 27's, both double en- 
gine companies, and 20 truck from Mercer 
Street; Jim's company 24's in Morton Street, 
took it on the second alarm and had quite a 
run to make it. 

Two nights after Mullaney had been up 
against the Commissioner and had got his 
three days, he went on the long watch at 
twelve o'clock midnight; up to that time, 
since six o'clock, he had had six good long, 
drinks and he was trembling and irritable. 
It was a pleasant still night; the sky was clear, 
blue and moonlit; the air was warm and sweet, 
and the busy murmur of the down town streets 
was ceased and quieted, Mullaney was 
gloomy, muttering and filled with hard 
thoughts. About one o'clock a station struck 
in from Barclay and Church Streets, just out- 
side their first alarm zone. A few minutes 
hooked up and " Turn them back " from the 
Captain, and the men trooped back to bunk, 
and Mullaney was again alone. This call 
had taken 27's first company and it was a 
working fire lasting two hours, though it 



98 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

needed but the one battalion to fight It. 
Hardly had the men dropped to their cots 
when a box was pulled at Broadway and 
Bleecker Street taking 30's and the first com- 
pany of 13's in Wooster Street, and even 
while the horses were in harness a second 
alarm came in for Bowery and Rivington 
Street taking 13's second company while 27's 
second company located in Broome Street to 
cover ^^ Engine. 

Poor Mullaney's fate had focussed. All 
these fires were nasty little ones; all the com- 
panies went to work and the district was un- 
covered. Sometimes we are trapped by cir- 
cumstances that forbid escape from dire woe, 
and some of us say " It Is God's will " and 
others curse our fate. 

After the men went upstairs from the last 
wait, Mullaney went back and looked at the 
horses which, excited by the calls, were a little 
restless and wild, and Mullaney had some 
trouble fixing the halter catches, which made 
him Impatient. He then went to the desk to 
enter the last station on the blotter, and as 
he did so he saw thnt the trip had slipped 



Minor Chords 99 

down; with a muttered curse he gave It a jam 
and In doing so he banged the jigger so it 
jingled and jangled. 

Mullaney turned away and hung on the 
chain looking out into the night. The jigger 
flushed hot and cold; it was a new bell just out 
of casting and nervous and anxious, at tension 
all the time. The jigger knew of the importance 
of its first strokes and being young was all of 
a quiver to receive and ring out; the big gong 
kept saying to the little bell " Easy now, easy 
now, you'll slip," but the youngster listened 
not and jumped at the first click. 

Now a jigger is of some importance In bell- 
dom. The big gongs are solid, and of course 
play a heavy part at times of big fires, but the 
mission of the jigger is to turn the companies 
out in time to prevent the big fires and so save 
life and property. In the shop, the little jig- 
ger had heard the recasts and the repairs talk 
of this alarm and that call : " How I jumped 
them out, so quick, it did not get any head- 
way," and " It was not my fault It went up, 
I was on time," or " You can't blame me for 
losing the first water at that station, I was on 



lOO Sun Time and Cloud Time 

the jump but Joe's collar slipped " ; and so 
many tales that impressed upon his bell mind 
the urgent necessity of quickness, that it was 
overwrought and highly sensitive. Mul- 
laney's bang set it all on edge; the hot temper 
ran out and the jigger trembled and mur- 
mured In its shame and anger. The big 
gong tried to soothe it, but to no avail. The 
hot anger gave way tO' resentment, and God 
help the man whose working tools harbor 
resentment against him. 

Mullaney hung on the chain and cast wist- 
ful eyes toward Larry Geoghans on the cor- 
ner but a few feet away. Cling! With a 
bound he was at the collars, while his shout, 
" Get up," to the horses rang through the 
house ; Cling ! — Cling ! — Cling ! — Cling ! 
— Cling ! — Clinging ! There was a slur on 
the last stroke, but Mullaney did not notice it; 
Cling — Cling — Cling — Cling — Cling — 
Cling — Cling — Cling — Cling — Cling — 
*' Seventy ! " shouted Mullaney to Reagan the 
driver, " West and Beach," and Reagan nod- 
ded and bent his head to clear the door as out 
they went. The door of the truck house is 



Minor Chords loi 

narrow and, on a go, the men, after hooking 
up the team, run to the sidewalk and dimb 
the side steps as the truck trails out; the 
driver and the tiller man have their work cut 
out for them to take the ponderous apparatus 
safely from the house, and so, when the jigger, 
sobered to its senses by the angry slip it had 
made, clang out quickly, Cling ! Cling ! Cling ! 
Cling! Cling! Cling! Cling! Cling! — Cling! 
Cling! Chng! Cling! Cling! Cling! Cling! 
Cling! Cling! Cling! Eighty, and the big 
gong in fear beat in with its clang, the truck 
had swung into the straight and was racing 
down towards the farm of the Docks. 

On through North Moore Street, across 
Varick, banging over the dummy tracks of 
Hudson Street, clashing, clashing, crashing 
over the stones, now driving straight, now 
swerving to pass the dinky car; horses bellies 
to the ground, hoofs beating flashes from the 
pavement, wheels clattering and bell clanging, 
clanging, clanging; West Street at last, a quick 
turn to the north and a run up the farm : — 
"Where's the fire?" shouted the Captain; 
"Fire?" said McGinty, who was leaning 



102 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

against the fire-box lamp post; — "Nothing 
doing on fires here, I've been here for fifteen 
minutes and no one has pulled this box." A 
quick glance and the Captain said " Wrong 
Station " and turned to look for a telephone 
to call headquarters, when, with a flare of red 
and a gleam of light, crash of hoofs and a 
ding of bell, up Hudson Street went the red 
wagon from Murray Street; "There's the 
Patrol " cried out Reagan ; " Get up there and 
follow it " ordered the Captain, and with a 
shout to the horses, a wheel into Beach Street, 
clash and dash and swerve, and turn into 
Hudson Street, and there it was, some blocks 
away, opened up at top with surge of flame 
and gusts of smoke. The horses leaped at 
the whip cuts ; the truck reeled and shook and 
jumped on — on — on. A policeman, white- 
faced, came dashing down, " Hurry, Hurry 
— Women " was all he could gasp. The 
whip cracked and the truck leaped on. As 
they crossed Canal Street the flames sank 
and died; the water was on; and then there 
came a hoarse cry from Mullaney who was 
at the bell-cord by P.eagan the driver: — 



Minor Chords 103 

" God Almighty, it's mine ! " and with a jump 
he was off the truck and rushing on fear-eyed 
and heart frozen. Horses could not keep up 
with him. The crowd broke for the truck, 
and for him, and on he ran, straight into the 
arms of Jim; "Hold him," said Jim, who 
was leaning white and sickened against the 
iron railing of the side areaway. Tears ran 
down Jim's cheeks, tears, the greatest trib- 
ute of earth to woe and grief, when they flow 
from the eyes of a man. " No use " sobbed 
Jim, " no use, I tried for them," and he held 
out his hands and arms burned and bleeding, 
" They're gone, they're gone ! " 

Mullaney looked at him in a daze, 
" Gone," and then he looked at some things 
covered by a blanket on the sidewalk, two 
things that a few minutes before had been his 
wife and baby; he looked, and then he sat 
down there with them, and the crowd moved 
away for awhile. 

It was a short fire; 24's due there on a sec- 
ond alarm; it had a long run to get there as 
first company. It only took the' top two 
floors. It started in the one below Mul- 



104 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

laney's home and had gone up the stairwell 
and cut off escape that way. Had the truck 
received the station rightly, they could have 
been in time to take them down by scahng 
ladders at least. 

That was only one short year ago and to- 
day Mullaney went over to meet Kitty and 
the little one. Jim's acting Chief and is up 
town; he could not stay in the old neighbor- 
hood. Mullaney stayed in the old battalion 
until something gave way in his lungs, and 
when he spat out blood the Chief put him 
on the sick list and let him stay there until the 
end. 

If there be in your head any mind at all 
be careful with your tools. Mullaney did a 
wrong to the jigger and to-day Mullaney went 
out to Calvary to stay there forever. 



WORDS ETERNAL 

This is my tale, told for the very strange- 
ness of it, loath though I be to talk of my 
own concerns. 

Out of the mist of my early child-days' 
wraithes a sweet-faced woman, sad eyed and 
sorrowed, and a stern, grave man. Oh, 
Mother! I, who now know your grief and 
burden, could have no love for him who 
brought that sorrow on you did I not know 
now his anguish and his penitence. 

Often the time-drift will lighten and I see 
them both and I vainly long for them. Some- 
times in my memory's sight I see mother with 
a tender smile brightening the set gloom 
of her lips, and father, with her hands in his, 
talks to her and to me and, though I know 
not his words, I know that mother is happy 
and I am even so, unknowingly glad. 

More times, alas, the mother face of my 

105. 



io6 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

mind-thought is heavy with woe and over- 
cast with fear and I am held in tightest clasp 
by those dear arms which resist not the as- 
saults on self but forbid any against the loved 
little one. My soul shrinks from the harsh 
sounds, the wronging words of these times. 
Mother ! he meant them not, not even when 
he spake them. 

I am told by the dear folk who have been 
so kind to me throughout my youth that my 
father was a man of great intellect, that he 
had gained renown and honor as a discoverer 
of new truths of science and had developed 
many theories into successful practices, yet, 
while possessed of such great mental capacity, 
his was an intensely jealous nature and he had 
but little control of a temper sometimes cruel 
to an extreme. 

My mother, so they tell me, was then, as 
she is now, an angel. Previous to marrying 
my father she was gay and careless, but sweet 
and pure. ,Many sought her, and yet he had 
won her, and truly did she love him ; so truly 
did she love him that none knew that he 



Minor Chords 107 

ever was unkind to her until that last time 
when she left him, left him because he had 
said the word no good woman must ever hear 
of herself and abide with the sayer of it. 

And then she came unto them and bode 
with them a little while until they found her, 
in the twilight of a Sabbath evening, kneeling 
at the opened window of her room, hands 
clasped and face quiet in death's peace. 

Father came back a long while afterward, 
and I, then but a boy, marveled at a man's 
tears. He strove to caress me, but I avoided 
him and shrank from him, so stern and harsh 
he seemed to me. Then he left, after, as I 
have since learned, providing for my main- 
tenance, and never since was he heard of un- 
til the day on which I received the message 
which is so wonderful that I am impulsed to 
tell of it. 

One month ago this day, I received, by 
express, a package wrapped in many coverings 
and addressed to me in the handwriting of my 
father; with the parcel was a letter from the 
British Consul at Shingoo, stating that the 



io8 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

package had been brought to him by a coohe 
who told him, with bated breath, that it had 
fallen from the clouds into the field where 
he was toiling. It was then enveloped in a 
wrapper on which was written in many lan- 
guages, " To the American or British Con- 
sul." I might say that my father was a master 
of most of the modern, and many of the an- 
cient, languages. On opening the outer en- 
velope a paper was found on which was 
written a request that the package be for- 
warded to the address written thereon, which 
was that of my own; also was there enclosed 
sufficient money to reward the finder and to 
defray the forwarding expenses. 

I have opened the package and I have read 
the manuscript and I now give it forth, so 
marvelous is the recital, and from what I 
know of my father's integrity and his geniused 
mind I am confident that it is true. 

I refrain from disclosing any of the tech- 
nical specifications, as was my father's advice 
and desire; I have used these in applying for 
patent rights in the name of others as I am not 
desirous of taking up any arduous business 



Minor Chords 109 

responsibilities, but otherwise my story Is just 
as it was written on the border of that realm 
of nothing filled with everything. 

*' To my dearly loved son, who, I fear, does 
neither love nor revere him who did beget 
him. Oh ! My son, do you forgive me and 
love me In your memory even as she loved and 
forgave me, and truly I feel you will so love 
and forgive me when you know of my life. 

My son, I bid you but two commands. If 
from me you have received of my worst nature 
tear it from you and, rather suffer deception 
and 111 use than resent what may seem such, 
and if of my inclination and devotion to re- 
search and study you are ever possessed do not 
become enslaved of such. Work and study but 
play as well; play counterbalances work and 
keeps a proper equilibrium of mind. Play; 
some and let others play. 

My son, I now write of events that rend my 
soul. I pray you to be patient to the end. 

It has been told you, no doubt, that I was 
severe and unkind to your dear mother; even 
so, it Is true, but my very harshness and cruelty 



no Sun Time and Cloud Time 

was born of and fostered by my love for her 
— hear me my son, — hear me, — my tears 
fall—. 

My temperament Is a curse of family de- 
scent; my mind is one of turbulence and at 
times It is disordered; at once I am trustful, 
loving, happy, and then, swift as the flight of 
eagles Into my soul and brain, come hate and 
fear. 

As a lad I loved your mother dearly, but I 
never even spoke to her though I met her 
often. Close to my books was I kept by my 
parents, though I seldom demurred against 
such for I loved my studies, only when I 
would know of some gayer affair, forbidden 
to me, at which she would be, did I rebel, 
though none knew of the reason of my sullen 
looks and mood. 

Your mother was the fairest, sweetest, gay- 
est girl of all I knew, yet was she not the 
gentlest and the kindest, for often when I 
would, hastily, In dismal hopelessness, pass by 
the little crowd of boys which ever were 
around her she would smile out sweetly at me 
and call to me a greeting which I would re- 



Minor Chords iiii 

turn, stammeringly I fear, so filled was my 
heart with joy that my tongue clave to my 
mouth-roof. 

I went away, and yet when I returned in 
some years time, I wondered to find my sweet 
little lady, unwedded. I had developed and 
the over assertive nature which has ever been 
my bane, broke through the cordons of her 
many friends who hoped for her love and took 
her to myself, and truly was I rejoiced to find 
that she had loved me, though she, herself, 
often wondered that she did so. 

And so we married, and for a time I was 
so happy; then you came and much of your 
mother's time was spent with you and I be- 
came engrossed in my work and discovered 
some of nature's secrets which I now give you 
that you may maintain yourself." 

Here followed many pages of descriptions 
and drawings of inventions and appliances 
which I refrain from introducing here. 

" Whether It is that my brain is so made up 
of such extraordinary sane particles of one 
quality as to weaken all the other brain atoms 



112 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

I know not, but that, at times, I was insane 
in my love I do know. 

I loved your mother, loved her so intensely 
that at times, in my wronging moods, I hated 
her. In such paroxysms of distrust, so many 
vile, wicked thoughts ran riot in my mind; 
why should she love me who was so different 
in nature to her? Why should she not love 
some one else? And in my jealousy I would 
pick out one and another of her old friends 
and of the few new ones we had made and 
would imagine such ones as being loved by 
her, and, finally, as all continued thought will 
groove its way into the matter of the brain, 
my fears and distrust trended always toward 
one, the one whom every one, even I, had 
once thought she would marry. 

I wronged him, my son, in such thoughts, 
but so little does that wrong weigh as to the 
burden of the wrong done your mother by 
me, that I speak no more of it except that to 
you I say that he is a good man, and if he 
lives and you meet him, greet him with affec- 
tion for he so loved your mother that none 
else has since entered his life. 



Minor Chords 'I131 

I am so gladdened In my heart and soul, 
when I remember that not always was your 
mother unhappy, but often did we spend some 
sweet passing hours of joy and affection. 

As you can see by the papers of specifica- 
tions which I have left for you, I had con- 
ceived of several new inventions to utilize 
some new and some old discoveries. My 
brain, wearied by the strain of such work, 
yielded and one night, late, with no cause 
whatsoever I raged and raved toward her. 
Alas ! I ever shall see her cringing, pale and 
horror stricken, as I said awful words. All 
that night it was so, but in the morning I had 
calmed so that I went out to take the great 
panacea of work. 

All that day I labored ; in the evening, with 
the bitterness still fomenting in my being, I 
went back to again rave and accuse, but she 
had gone, gone never to come back to me, so 
she said in a little note, and never did she 
come back to me, for in my madness I shut 
the house and lost myself in travel. 

It may be that you have been told more 
of the happenings of that dreadful night than 



114 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

ever I knew of, but I learned afterwards that 
she came to her friends with you, and once 
entered into the place of her retreat never left 
it but ever sat sadly, quietly, drooping, until 
she died on that soft, summer Sabbath even- 
ing. 

It was the early fall when I, rational again, 
crept back to seek forgiveness. — forgiveness, 
Oh, — how I have longed for her forgive- 
ness. 

My son, it was not your mother's death that 
struck me heart frozen, prostrate, when they 
told me, told me harshly and reproachingly. 
Death is not an end, my son, it is the begin- 
ning, and had she died with me near her, with 
my arms about her and with her soul in my 
soul, I, though stricken even so sore, would 
have comforted myself with the right to fol- 
low after her and to meet her again, but that 
she had gone from me and had forbidden me 
ever to follow her, and had ceased to think of 
me and love me, — Oh ! never yet have there 
been sins so wrong as warrant the meting out 
of such a hell's punishment. 

When I recovered from the horrible shock 



Minor Chords 115 

I eagerly sought to know every httle detail of 
her life since she had left me, and, heart- 
wrung as I was by the telling, slowly into my 
being crept a little feeble hope. God may 
take from man riches, joys, happiness, power, 
and give to him only woe, trouble, strife, and 
labor, yet if man is still left hope will he 
doggedly go on with his existence, but take 
hope from him and soon must he fall in self- 
destruction. 

Each day, they said, she would sit with you 
and caress you. Ah, son ! Many times, 
against your will I fear, have I caressed you, 
striving that some memory of her dear love, 
clinging yet to you, might be yielded to me; 
never a word of me from her, yet never would 
she let them speak against me. 

Each night, just as the evening light would 
soften down to purple haze, she, looking from 
her window toward the fading west, would 
pray aloud, but never did any hear her words 
for none dared to intrude upon such sorrow as 
was hers. 

My son, I grew convinced that at some 
times I must have been mentioned in her 



ii6 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

prayers, and, while I shuddered oftentime m 
fear that she did accuse me to her God, I could 
not long so fear, for I knew her sweetness and 
her goodness, and even as I had crept back 
hoping to hear her dear voice bid me stay 
when I had knelt hum.bly to her, so did I crave 
with unutterable longings that I might know 
her words when she did so pray aloud. 

They told me that, on that last night, that 
beautiful Sunday — and ever should there be 
a Sabbath for this earth as a memorial of 
earth's gift to heaven in her going there — 
she prayed even louder than was her wont, 
and they, hearing her stronger voice, though 
not knowing her words, smiled, happily think- 
ing she was better: Of a sudden she ceased, 
and when they went to call her, she was kneel- 
ing at her window, which was full opened, and 
as she knelt she smiled as a little child smiles 
in pleasant dreamings in the sleep that comes 
after a tiring day. 

And so I longed to know her words, those 
stronger words, which left such a smile of joy 
on that dear face I had so streaked with grief. 

My son, many of my inventions, which 



Minor Chords 117 

have been simple appliances based on some- 
what complicated theories, have been con- 
ceived of and developed by me for reasons of 
necessities. Men, knowing of my ability in 
such matters, have come to me and have stated 
that their needs called for some new and un- 
discovered method of procedure, some 
mechanism never yet constructed, and, for the 
paltry recompense that the world calls pay, I 
have bent my endeavors and worked the brain 
which has been mine, happy and absorbed in 
the tasks. 

And so from my great wish and need was 
there born in my soul a hope that I might hear 
your mother's words and know whether for 
me she had prayed, and from my soul I jeal- 
ously, carefully transplanted that hope into 
the thought soil of my mentality and from 
my mind I weeded out all else and bent all my 
endeavors to the single necessity of my own 
desire, which was of me, all of me. 

My son, when first you lay in your mother's 
arms, a newborn babe, were you then in 
period of time to the last born of all creation 
as the tiny knowledge of the laws of the uni- 



ii8 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

verse now known to man, is to the immensity 
of that universe and its law. 

Strange is it that the greatest comes from 
the least. We know of people only back a 
few thousands of years, yet I read from a 
stone dug but a few feet below the clods we 
walk upon of the history of the world's form- 
ulative movements of millions of years, yet 
man deems himself the greatest of the crea- 
tions. The many mighty Caesars are as one 
to all of us. Rome of all power is a ruin. 
Napoleon and his conquering hordes are 
crumbling jests, yet Christ In his simplicity 
and lowliness lives ever and sways to right- 
eousness the masses of the earth. 

Many men of tremendous brains write 
ponderous tomes from which comes nothing, 
and some simple mind evolves a theory or 
conceives a construction which progresses all 
the movements of the world. 

Once, when I was studying in my school 
days, I knew a dreamer. 

The people of the world should place at 
each of the four corners of the earth shafts 
reaching to heaven in gratitude to the dream- 



Minor Chords 119 

ers of the earth. From them, poets, thinkers, 
lovers, idlers, come the sweet things of this 
life. Jostle them, brush them aside, sneer at 
them, laugh at them, and on they dream; 
happy dreamers, happy in their dreams; so 
unhappy out of their dreamings that I won- 
der not at their sorrow and their gloom in 
their wakened hours. 

This dreamer I laughed at, but as he, too, 
was thoughtful, I talked often with him. 
Many of his thoughts then seemed beyond the 
range of possibilities, yet have I not seen many 
of these same ideas, as were his, advanced in 
more tangible shape by older, stronger, more 
practical minds. 

Once he asked me, and so earnest was he 
I smiled not, that if it were true atmospheric 
waves were produced by concussion, why was 
it not possible that the very exhalations of 
the breath when words were uttered should 
produce wave sounds of lesser intensity than 
those produced by concussion. I assured him 
that but a little while before we had been so 
instructed in our studies, and then he remem- 
bered that at that particular moment he had 



120 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

been worried concerning a little rhyme in a 
sonnet which had engrossed his mind. But 
he continued asking other questions which 
aroused my curiosity but which I put aside and 
forgot for these long years. 

What a wonderful storeroom is memory. 
We throw everything into it and then, when 
we want this or that, we search our own or 
some one else's memory and find that for 
which we look. And so, possessed of but the 
one necessity of my soul desire, I ransacked 
my mind's storehouse and came upon that long 
forgotten thought of that long forgotten 
dreamer. 

Sound waves of speech, started by the 
tongue and lip movements, radiate out in the 
direction In which they are directed but fol- 
lowing nature's plan of seeking lines of least 
resistance when they encounter the banked up 
and hardened atmosphere directly in front 
they Incline slantingly up and up from air 
strata to air strata until they strike the realm 
of ether and then — what? 

That was the question that had been asked 
of me by the dreamer so many years before — 



Minor Chords 12 1 

and then what? Then I had answered the 
sceptic answer — " I wonder," but now I too 
asked myself — and then what? I, now, 
wanted to know what, for I wanted to follow 
after your mother's words, my son, and hear 
them though they had gone up to the belt of 
nothing. 

As you know, the atmosphere encloses this 
globe in stratified circles, each belt being 
lighter in density as they progress from the 
earth until is reached the last almost non- 
existing air strata after which is ether. 

I made sounds in one strata of atmosphere 
and caught the same sound in the next suc- 
ceeding belt above and found that the in- 
tensity and volume of the sound was un- 
changed, but I found that sounds in a higher 
strata could not by their own power be forced 
into a lower one. I further learned that a 
sound started in a lower belt entered into and 
passed through each succeeding stratum above 
without loss of power or speed but rather as 
the atmosphere rarified, the speed of the sound 
waves increased. I interfered with sound 
waves in different stratum by means of non- 



122 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

conductive and impenetrable bodies and found 
that If the sound did not move around the 
interfering body it rested dormant against 
that body until the interference ceased, when 
the wave at once resumed its progress as 
though never stopped. In fact, I ascertained 
and determined that sound waves once started 
never ceased their existence in the atmosphere, 
and as I knew that the ether which surrounded 
the atmosphere was nonconductive and im- 
penetrable I was convinced that in that last 
belt of air were the sounds of all times, to be 
for all times until this world is dead — and 
mayhaps afterward. 

Think, my son, of such a space filled with 
every sound of this earth's creation and ex- 
istence and hold thy speech in check that no 
shameful utterance of yours shall ever live. 

I learned, by Inquiry, of the atmospheric 
conditions of the day and night of your 
mother's death. Her window looked out over 
the little valley, and, they told me, she prayed 
just as the village church bell rang for even- 
ing service. There was a pleasant breeze 
blowing, but the air was light and so I tried to 



Minor Chords 123 

follow in my mind her prayers as they went 
out on the night air. 

Having convinced myself that this theory 
of perpetuation of sound was practical, I bent 
my inventive mind to devise a means of reach- 
ing that upper stratum of atmosphere. 
Strange it is that this problem did not cause 
me so much concern as did my fear that my 
sound wave theory was erroneous. 

First I thought an inflated balloon would be 
the best method of reaching the highest 
stratum and experimented in that direction, 
but I was thwarted by the expansiveness of 
the gas, which, in the rarified atmospheres, 
would burst any confinements light enough to 
be lifted by it. 

Eventually, I devised a machine, easily di- 
rected and operated by the occupant, which 
overcame the controlling influences of gravity 
and which would ascend and descend in the 
air. I cannot tell of my great eagerness to 
search the atmospheric realms nor of my trou- 
bles and disappointments. Finally, I found I 
could raise my air-car up to a certain strata 
and then I was stopped by the terrible suf- 



124 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

focating rarification of the air which threat- 
ened to kill me if I persisted in going further. 

My son, I would have sought death rather 
than avoided it, had I been assured that in 
so doing I would join your mother, but I 
feared that God would condemn me to Hades 
for self-destruction even did he forgive me for 
my other wrongdoing, and I feared Hell only 
because I, then, could never see her or hear 
her voice and I constantly pray that I again 
may be with her. 

Again I spent long days and sleepless nights 
thinking, praying, striving. Finally, I thought 
out and constructed a mechanism which re- 
ceives the sound waves and carries them to an- 
other device which reproduces them in their 
original form though accentuated with a slight 
metallic sound. This is one of the inventions 
I bequeath to you, which I think will be of 
great service to the people of the world, as, 
with it, they may talk from pole to pole. 

And then I fashioned a balloon, small in 
size but of hammered-out aluminum, thin and 
light but strong, and around it I put a net- 
work of elastic silk and put in it but just 



Minor Chords 125 

enough gas to carry it up; to this balloon I 
attached what I called a receiver of the sound 
waves from which ran a thin copper wire, of 
which I took many miles, and which would 
serve as a conduit for the sounds as well as 
to hold captive and guide the balloon. 

And so, one night, that I would create no 
scene, I went off alone, up — up — up, never 
now I think to return, and were it not for you 
I would not sorrow, but I would like so much 
to see you once again and have you, too, tell 
me of some love which I hope will always now 
be mine. 

When I had reached the highest altitude 
in which I could breathe, I released the little 
balloon and carefully allowed it to rise further 
and further until I could see it no more. Foot 
after foot, yard after yard, mile after mile, 
the wire ran out, until my heart sickened with 
the fear that I would not have enough to reach 
into the last zone of atmosphere. Happily, 
just when I was most despairing, the wire 
slackened — tautened — slackened, and then 
I knew my messenger was hitting against the 
solidness of the nothingness of the ether belt. 



126 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

I made fast my wire so that the balloon 
would ride free from such ethereal contact, 
and then I fixed my reproducer to the wire, 
completed the battery arrangement and, 
trembling with agitation, placed the little in- 
strument to my ear. 

My son, all the days of your life, in morn- 
ing time, at noon, and in the evening praise 
God for His mercies to me. At first I heard 
but a jumbled mass of noises but soon my 
ear learned to distinguish the different utter- 
ances and to segregate and separate the 
sounds, and so much have I heard as never 
man in all his thought flights has ever 
dreamed. 

I have kept a sort of diary of the follow- 
ing days and I add that to this, for my carry- 
ing machine is disordered and I cannot con- 
trol it, and I am drifting slowly up into the 
upper strata and I soon shall die, but I think 
it is God's will and so I am happy. 

My son, while I yet have strength and life 
I will pack up these words of mine and will 
drop them down, hoping they will fall into 
kindly hands, and that you will receive them. 



Minor Chords 127 

Good-bye, my dear son ! Love me, and you 
must, for your mother did so wish." 

" This is the third day and I now lie here 
outstretched, listening to the calls of all time. 
My ear is now well-trained and each utter- 
ance, noise, concussion, is distinct from its 
fellows. I hear the songs of joy; the moans 
of woe; the cries of grief; the happy shouts 
of pleasure ; but, alas ! I hear not the voice 
of my beloved one, but grateful am I that I 
am now able to hear what I do, so marvelous 
it is, and so hopeful it makes me. 
This must be the fifth day. Yesterday I 
must have slept, tired with the strain, for it 
was still dark when I came to, though I re- 
member the ever-glaring brightness of the 
sun reaching my eyes through my closed lids. 

I have heard dreadful sounds this day, 
moans and clash of steel against steel; swish- 
ing sounds which I can but guess were arrow 
flights; groans and deep guttural shouts, so 
savage, in the northern tongue of long ago 
of which I, knowing many languages, knew 
but little. So awful was it that I urged my 



128 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

machine on and on but 'twas long ere I left 
that region, but I soon regained my cheer, for 
then I heard a mother croon a little babe 
song, a maiden was telling her prayers, a vir- 
tuous girl who asked only to be left so, a little 
babe's laugh and a pater noster of a Romanist 
in which I, a Protestant, joined and then I 
slept. 

. . . What day this is I know not. 
How can I, living In all the days that ever 
have been, care for a little day of now! 
What Is time of man! As a second's pause 
to eternity's swing Is his life, yet If there be 
no seconds there be no eternity. 

My heart is failing me. My soul Is sick- 
ened with dread and fear that never shall I 
hear Her voice. Millions of peoples have I 
heard, yet not the one I eager long to hear. 

Yesterday I heard the rush of mighty 
waters falling In tremendous rains; the swash 
of lapping, rising seas; the roar of mighty 
Inundating oceans; and I shrank In horror 
from the fearful wails and soul-rendering 
cries: of an earth overwhelmed. 

Some time before, I heard entranced, the 



Minor Chords 129 

sound of sweet music and the songs of a 
singer telling out the comfort and the glory of 
the Lord God of Israel and was I soothed 
thereby. This morn I heard oaths, shouts, 
blasphemies, and too, prayers and soft lulla- 
bies. Lewd talk followed dear words of love 
and ribald songs passed on to sweet melodies. 

. . . To-day — I know not what day, 
I heard the thunder of heavy guns spit- 
ting out the death which too I heard, and too, 
I heard the crashing of the horsemen charging 
'cross the plain and then the shock and cries of 
their contact, and then I heard carollings of 
good-will and peace to men. Now do I hear 
the murmur of the ocean and the beat of it 
upon the sands; the rolling clash of water- 
moving pebbles and stones. Now comes tO' 
me the crash of mighty wheels and the loud 
acclaims of conquerors mingled with the 
taunts and gibes to captives. I hear the snarls 
of fighting beasts and the low sobbing of a 
child. 

Widow's tears falling have I heard and the 
comforting words of friends, but have I not 
heard the hard bitter reproaches and accusing 



130 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

words of wrongs. My God, will I never hear 
my beloved. 

. . . To-day — What day? All 
days? I have heard not for days for all 
space — all immensity — all — is void for I 
have heard the voice of God. 

I lay listening, eager to grasp the softest 
whisper of Her being and, of a sudden, was 
there a stillness and a silence, so vast, so ter- 
rible, yet was I not afraid so was I held en- 
thralled by it. It was as though I had en- 
tered a space held apart for some greater one 
and truly was it so, for in a little time, I 
heard, Oh, Sorrowed One ! " Father, for- 
give " — and then there entered into my soul 
the peace of infinity and, as I fainted, into my 
ears poured the sound of the All saying, 
*' This is my beloved Son " — . 

When I came to myself I had passed into 
other sounds, but I know I have heard my 
Saviour and my God and I am exultant, for 
surely such would not have been permitted if 
I were to be so cruelly punished as never again 
to take to me my sweet one. 

Strange it is that I fainted so and I am 



Minor Chords 131 

failing in strength for I have no desire to 
move and my head is light. Perhaps I am 
in too high an altitude, but I fear to move as 
my wire will not let me go much lower. 

Last night as I lay awake 
watching the near-by stars, each of which I 
knew as old friends of my studies, my ears 
constantly pressed to my reproducer, I idly 
heard the creak of wheels of heavily loaded 
carts, the slow sober tread of oxen, the clash 
of stone fitting to stone and the close sound 
of trowel. Orders and commands heard I 
and words of many talking at their toil, all in 
one harsh tongue, and then, in a twinkling, 
came there a sudden babbling of babel, a 
jumble of dismayed sounds, a dissension of 
speech, out of which I was glad to pass. 

. To-day, I am weaker Oh! If 
I were but sure that I would be allowed to 
go to her, I would not fear, but I want not to 
die until I hear her voice again. If she has 
not forgiven me, I care not whither I go. If 
she has forgiven me, God, for her sake, will 
give me to her, even if He deems me, in my- 
self, insufficient to enter His realm. 



132 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

All Is here, somewhere here, all that ever 
was, and all will ever be here that ever Is. 
Oh ! If all who live could but this know, 
would they not stay their bitter words, their 
Idle talk, their wrong sayings, their false vows, 
which can never die. How happy were It If 
In this bidlng-place of all sounds were naught 
but good ones. Perhaps God wanted it not 
so, for so lovely Is this earth, that, were It so, 
It would not be needful to remove man there- 
from to find his heaven. 

I am weakening and fear I shall not last 
long. I shall write now a statement leading 
up to this diary and shall wrap all up and drop 
it, hoping that my dear son shall receive It. 
My days are done ! God be 
praised — my son — praise God — I have 
not strength to write — I have heard — my 
loved one — forgave me — loves me. I 
faint — I die. 

... I thought to die and I am 
near to my end for which I long but while yet 
I can write I must tell — I have drifted up — 
close to the deadly suffocating stratum — I 
cannot work back, as my machine is unman- 



Minor Chords 133 

ageable. I have but a little time and that 
seems so long, for I do so want my loved one. 
I was asleep, so tired, so weak, and the sun 
glow, just showing past the earth's west, trou- 
bled my eyes and awakened me. I lay listen- 
ing as I ever did in my waking moments. For 
a little while the old sounds came and went, 
song and sob, cry and shout, trill of bird, 
moan of sick, chatter, talk and the wind's 
soughing in the trees; and then came there to 
my ears a sound of my memory, the pleasant 
ring of a church bell; I heard it idly, till into 
my consciousness was driven the remem- 
brance of this very ring, and I knew I heard 
the bell of the little church that rang even as 
she died, and then. Dear God, I thank Thee! 
I heard her voice once more. Oh! I know 
the angel band she hath joined will hush their 
songs to hear her dear voice, so sweet is it; 
and she prayed for me and for our son, and 
said, aloud, how she loved us both, and, 
(wrung was my heart with sorrow, though It 
was filled with joy), how she longed for me 
to come back to her and take her in my arms, 
and even as she asked God to bless me, even 



134 ^^^ Time and Cloud Time 

as the bell rang out, she gasped and said no 
more. 

Eagerly I tried to hear again her words, 
but I went along, and then I cast adrift my 
balloon and have since endeavored to descend 
that I may seek my son and tell him of her 
prayer, of her love, and of her forgiveness, 
and ask him to keep me near him who is of 
her and of me, but who is so like her." 



A CREATURE OF CIRCUMSTANCE 

" We are all creatures of circumstances, 
obeying the impulses and dictates of our con- 
ditions, and doing the bidding of our neces- 
sities; sometimes in so doing we violate the 
rules adopted by men, and if the violation be 
one that breaks what is called morality, 
and we be found out in violating of such 
rule, we suffer punishment, more or less as 
our wrong-doing is sized with our social posi- 
tion and our money worth; the sin of a man 
little in the view of the world Is larger and 
greater than Is the evil done by the man big, 
according to worldly estimation. If a man 
breaks a rule which men have laid down as 
law, then, if he be apprehended and con- 
victed of the crime, Is he punished under the 
prescribed law. And In all this there Is 
righteousness, reason, and necessity; there 
must be rules of government or there will be 
^35, 



136 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

no government, and if there be no govern- 
ment there will be no community, and be there 
no community there will be no fixed place of 
abode for men, for man is an animal which 
ever seeks companionship and must have 
others around him to preserve and invigorate 
his mental and physical condition. 

" But we are more than creatures of cir- 
cumstances, we are creatures of the creators of 
our circumstances; the laborer sets out to his 
work in the dark hours of the morning and 
sweats in his labor 'till the late hours of the 
night, returning wearily to his humble home 
to eat of the coarse food of his table and to 
sleep heavily until begins another toil-day; 
he is a creature of his circumstances but are 
not those circumstances controlled by the man 
who hires him and who pays him his wage, 
and if he is swayed by his circumstances which 
are ordered by his employer is he not a crea- 
ture of such master? It is so in every stratum 
of life, there are ones controlled and ones in 
power over such as are controlled, yet even 
they, who are in power, are themselves con- 
trolled in some greater or lesser degree." 



Minor Chords 137 

" The prosecuting attorney will argue to 
you that the testimony of the witnesses against 
the prisoner was direct and unrefuted: He 
will say that the prisoner's guilt was so evident 
that even I, the prisoner's attorney, deemed it 
folly to attempt to disprove it; you have the 
facts in your mind; the prisoner, who is a 
mechanic, one of a labor organization, on 
strike against an unjust and unwarranted re- 
duction of wages; prompted by his necessities, 
goaded by the clamorlngs of hungry children 
and rendered reckless of law and of con- 
sequences by the unuttered wail of a 
dying woman, his wife, the mother of his 
children, whose life could have been main- 
tained by but a little good food, committed 
an attack upon society by breaking Into a 
store and taking therefrom, what? — Dia- 
monds? — Gold? — Silks or Satins? — No! 
Food ! — Food ! — Food ! — Food for those 
hungry children, food for that sickened, life- 
wearied wife; and he was taken right in the 
act. And I come here and, because I have 
studied and know the many set rules of men, 
I act for him and talk for him, and he Is my 



138 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

creature in this time and in these circum- 
stances; and I have told him to plead not 
guilty, not because he did not do this thing — 
No ! A man's necessity may make of him a 
thief, but It need not make of him a liar; I 
told him to say, ' Not guilty,' so I could rise 
up and talk to you, the twelve men who have 
been elected to sit and hear and deliberate 
on the facts and truths of this doing, that in 
the end you can say, he is guilty of this crime 
or he is not guilty of this crime. 

" Gentlemen, the prosecution presented the 
owner of the goods stolen from his store, 
which were shown to you, and he Identified 
them as his property. He alleged that he had 
not sold them to the prisoner and that, being 
called to the police station late on the night 
the prisoner was arrested, he was shown the 
property and recognized it as his own by 
marks upon It. He further stated that after 
the Interview at the police station he went to 
his store and found signs that the door had 
been broken open and other evidences of 
theft. He further stated the value of the 
property ; and to all this we have not one word 



Minor Chords 139 

to say to prove these charges untrue. We are 
not liars, my client and I. 

" The two police officers are worthy of com- 
mendation for their alertness and zeal, and 
their courage in detecting and arresting the 
prisoner. They say they came upon him as he 
was robbing the store and they took him into 
custody. Not one word say we contrary to 
these allegations. Nevertheless, the prisoner 
at the bar is not the thief he is indicted to be. 
He did not commit this theft. He did not 
do this act. The theft was done by the cir- 
cumstances which controlled him. He acted 
under the duress of his conditions. His chil- 
dren were famished, his wife was dying of 
lack of nourishment. His circumstances com- 
mitted the crime. But you say circumstances 
are inanimate and the law cannot apprehend 
and punish circumstances. That is true ! 
Then hearken back to the creator of those cir- 
cumstances. Gentlemen of the jury, I ask 
that your verdict be directed against the man 
who demanded of this prisoner that he work 
all his day for forty cents less than he had 
been previously giving him. I ask a verdict 



140 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

of guilty against the man who demanded that 
he pay for his food to eat more money than 
he paid for such food when he was getting 
higher wages for his labor. These are the 
thieves, gentlemen, these are the doers of this 
crime upon which you are sitting in judgment : 
For the man before you, sitting humble and 
broken In his seat of shame I ask mercy, for- 
giveness, justice. He sought to gain his ne- 
cessities. He trod the long, rugged, stony, 
uphill road of toil; at every step he was beset 
by obstacles and privations; he worked un- 
ceasing, uncomplaining, to enrich the fruitful 
place, belonging to his masters, along his way. 
He could see the ripened fruits hanging on 
the yielding trees just over the walls, but he 
was satisfied to take for his labor the wind- 
fall and the core; and he and his throve on 
the poverty of it; but when even these were 
refused him, when his toil was belittled and 
his brow sweat was cheapened he stopped his 
toil and sat down hoping that his idleness 
would so prevent the picking of the ripened 
fruit as to compel his masters, in their need, 
to give him a sufficiency for his needs. And 



Minor Chords 141 

then, gentlemen, hungered beyond endurance, 
crazed by the cries of children and the woe 
of his wife, he broke down the feeble fence of 
ownership rights, and was attacked for so 
doing by the very society of which he was a 
part, and now the OAvners of these fructifying 
trees clamor that his liberty be taken from 
him, and that he be branded a wrongdoer, and 
yet it was these clamoring owners of fruits 
that he had helped to produce, that had 
roughened and stoned his road and had cheap- 
ened his toil and labor. 

" These are the thieves, and I demand jus- 
tice against them ! I ask sympathy for him ! I 
ask his liberty from you ! " 

The voice tired by its own intensity 
quavered — and broke. 

The judge opened his eyes and looked, in- 
quiringly, at the speaker, then, as the defend- 
ant's counsel sat down, said, " Mr. Martin." 

The attorney for the people slowly rose, 
his hard lined face showing the perplexity 
and bewilderment of his mind. His glance 
wandered from the judge to the jury, then to 
the few people scattered behind the guard rail, 



142 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

and finally rested on the hollow cheeked white 
face of the lawyer who had just ceased his 
argument. 

" The people rest," he said, and in his tone 
there was a mixture of wonder and contempt. 
" Surely there is no necessity for further talk 
on this case when the defendant and his coun- 
sel both practically confess the doing of the 
crime as charged in the indictment. As to the 
criminal culpability of some people remote 
from the intent, from the scene, from the act- 
ual commission of the crime, without knowl- 
edge of such or desire to be accessory to it, 
it would be absurdity bordering on lunacy for 
me to argue against such false and ludicrous 
assertions. I am content to leave the people's 
case in the hands of this jury, satisfied that 
justice will be done and the social laws upheld. 
The people rest." As slowly as he had risen 
he sat down and gathered up his papers; for 
him the matter was finished; his duty done, 
and thoroughly done in his own way, he was 
careless of the result though in this case he 
was confident of a conviction, but it would be 
but another good mark on a record of many 



Minor Chords 143' 

such verdicts as against but few acquittals. 
Bulldog Martin they called him because he 
hung on with teeth to every fact and law to 
convict and the lawyers, with pohtical af- 
filiations, ever strove that he be not assigned 
to any case that they were defending. 

The cold, gray December day was darken- 
ing down though It was but four o'clock. The 
room was cheerless and gloomy in its almost 
terrifying severity of decorations. The 
silence, broken only by the voices of the 
lawyers or the uneasy shuffling and moving of 
the sitters in the back, was ominous. On a 
chair, near his counsel, guarded by two burly 
red-cheeked officers, the gaunt, haggard-faced 
defendant, sat with bowed head, eyes ever 
looking down, and hands clutching and pick- 
ing the slouch hat held in them. 

As the people's attorney ceased speaking, a 
little gleam of satisfaction came into the deep 
sunk eyes of the prisoner's counsel which in- 
stantly passed out and was followed by a 
flash of bitterness as he saw Martin lean over 
and talk to another man sitting at the prose- 
cutor's table. Penfield's teeth closed with a 



144 "^^"^ Time and Cloud Time 

snap and his nose distended and all his fight- 
ing instinct surged into his heart. 

The venerable judge, his hair whitened by- 
time, began his charge. The shuffling and 
the whispering ceased. The men of the jury 
leaned forward eagerly to be guided by the 
wisdom, the experience, and more than all by 
the authority of his words. 

" The prisoner, at eleven o'clock on the 
night of September 2nd last, was arrested 
while in the store of one Henry Albros, who 
is the owner of a grocery at the corner of 
Hudson and Jane Streets, the prisoner having 
unlawfully broken into the said grocery store 
with intent to rob. This constitutes the crime 
of burglary with which he is charged. The 
testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution 
has been heard by you. The defendant has 
not produced any evidence to disprove the 
charge but he is not compelled to do so. The 
prosecution must prove the guilt of the pris- 
oner beyond a reasonable doubt. The fact 
that the prisoner does not testify or bring 
others to testify must not weigh against him 
at all. If, in your opinion, the prosecution 



Minor Chords 145 

has clearly and undoubtedly proven the pris- 
oner's guilt, then your verdict must be that he 
is guilty. If in your minds there be a doubt 
as to the prisoner's guilt you must give him 
the benefit of that doubt and acquit him of this 
crime. It is needless for me to go over the 
evidence or the testimony as it was short and 
must be fresh in your minds. I give you the 
case and leave you to your duty." 

The day had darkened and, at a word from 
the judge an attendant opened the door of 
the light closet and with a switch-turn flooded 
the court room with a yellow glare. 

Penfield slowly rose and said: *' If the 
court pleases I request that the jury be in- 
structed that anything that has been produced, 
introduced or brought out, either on examina- 
tion, cross-examination or," and, seemingly 
carelessly, Penfield turned towards Martin, 
who, while listening to Penfield's request, was 
still talking to the man who had incited the 
hard feeling in Penfield's mind, " in my sum- 
ming up." The last words were spoken slow- 
ly, but in a tone much lower than the others ; 
it would seem as though, tired by his en- 



1^6 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

deavors the defendant's lawyer had said them 
without care as to the hearing of them. The 
judge, now busied with some papers presented 
tO' him for signature and trusting to the Dis- 
trict Attorney's watchfulness, hardly heard all 
the request. Martin, hearing the first part of 
the request in a usual form and diverted by 
the earnestness of his conversation made no 
objection; but not a juryman was there but 
into whose mind had been driven those intense 
words, " or in summing up." The judge 
looked up saying, " So charged," and again 
turned to his papers. 

A quick flush of hope lit up Penfield's face 
going out instantly, leaving there only the 
same quiet look of steadfast purpose. 

" I further request that the jury be in- 
structed that it is their sole right to declare 
as to the innocence or guilt of this prisoner; " 
Martin trained to receive impressions at all 
times was roused to alertness by this strange 
request, but made no objection to it. 

" So charged ! " The judge after his glance 
at Martin continued reading the documents 
before him. 



Minor Chords 147 

Martin's fellow-talker had risen and now 
walked to a seat just inside the rail. Martin, 
his whole mind again on the case, idly 
drummed on the table before him. 

" I request," Penfield's voice rang out clear 
and deliberate, " that the jury under the evi- 
dence, the testimony and all the other proceed- 
ings be directed that they may find the pris- 
oner innocent of the crime as charged " — 

Quickly Martin was on his feet; " I ob- 
ject," he bellowed. The judge sat back and 
looked at the two attorneys. 

" If it pleases the court," Penfield's pallid 
features had a quiet gleam of amusement, 
" and Mr. Martin doesn't object, I shall fin- 
ish my request and then Mr. Martin can 
Interpose any legal objection he deems ex- 
pedient." 

" Proceed," said the judge with a quiet 
smile, while Martin sulkily sat down with 
tightened lips and hardened face. 

" I request that the jury be directed that 
they may find the prisoner Innocent of the 
crime as charged, or that they may find the 
prisoner guilty of any degree of the crime as 



148 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

charged or of an attempt to commit the 
crime." 

" So directed," said the judge without giv- 
ing Martin time to say one word. Penfield 
turned to Martin with a courteous, *' I am 
finished, Mr. Martin." Martin simply 
shrugged his shoulders and said, " No re- 
quests," and the judge nodded to the jury 
officer who opened the door of the jury box 
and lead the twelve men to the room set aside 
for them. 

It was now half past four o'clock. The 
judge said, " Mr. Penfield, Mr. Martin, I 
shall be in my chambers until half past six; if 
the jury have not reached a verdict by that 
time I shall direct a sealed verdict and have it 
read to-morrow morning." The two lawyers, 
now conversing in a friendly way, nodded as- 
sent and rose respectfully as the judge passed 
out to his private office. 

"Penfield!" And Martin put his hand 
on Penfield's shoulders as he spoke, "If you 
were not Penfield, the man I know incapable 
of doing such a dirty trick I would accuse you 
of throwing this case. Why, man! What 



Minor Chords 149 

were you thinking of, no defense, no good 
character witnesses, what were you thinking 
of, and such tomfoolery in your summing 
up." Martin looked his almost indignant 
wonder. 

Penfield shook his head sadly; " Charac- 
ter," he said, " who would vouch for his 
character? " 

" Why his friends, his employers," said 
Martin. 

Penfield waved his hand toward a little 
group of low talking men who were excitedly 
talking among themselves; unkempt faces, 
threadbare coats, rough hands; "Those are 
his friends," he said, " good honest friends, 
good honest men, but who would vouch for 
them?" 

Martin looked at the group, then shrugged 
his shoulders, saying, " But his employers? " 

Penfield sneered, "His employers? You 
had them alongside of you in the trial; twenty- 
one years a faithful servant yet one fit to be 
hounded to jail," and he nodded toward the 
man sitting with his back to the guard rail. 

" Oh 1 " Martin smiled, " Conkling, I see," 



150 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

then he continued with a laugh, " But the 
starving wife and famished children, where 
were they?" Penfield had turned away and 
was putting some papers in his satchel; he 
straightened up and his face was hardened 
and set. 

" I couldn't get the wife — she couldn't 
come." 

" Couldn't come," Martin was dogged, 
" make her come • — sick, bring her on a 
stretcher — sore on him, arrest her." 

Penfield wearily turned away, saying, " No 
good, either of them — no jurisdiction. She 
died a week after this affair." 

Martin, cold and indifferent as he was, 
looked troubled and said, " Oh ! — Poor 
chap, well ! I wasn't so awful hard on him, 
now was I? " 

Penfield laughed; "No — but don't take 
any credit for that, you thought it was not 
necessary." Martin smiled and said no more. 

The prisoner, who had sat quietly through- 
out the trial now went past the two lawyers, 
between two keepers, on his way to the court 



Minor Chords 151 

pen. Penfield took his hand as he passed and 
said, *' Keep up your courage, things will 
brighten up." The man looked up eagerly, 
but seeing Martin, scowled and went along 
his dismal way. 

" Your client does not seem to like me ! " 
Martin said in an indifferent tone. 

" You could not expect him to manifest any 
amount of sincere affection for you," retorted 
Penfield. 

"No," said Martin absently, "I don't 
strive to win their affection." 

" Martin," and Penfield put his hand on 
the prosecutor's shoulder, " do me a good 
turn and win the gratitude of that man. Help 
me to win the utmost clemency for him from 
the court, will you ? " 

Martin looked at him and said carelessly, 
" All right, Penfield, Pll consent to anything 
in reason." 

" Thank you, Martin," and Penfield's tired 
face brightened again as he walked down 
through the rail gate to the little group of 
men in the rear, the prisoner's friends. 



152 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Eagerly they closed around him, question- 
ing, anxious and doubtful, their voices low 
even in the absence of the judge. 

Martin glanced at the clock, pondered for 
one moment and then strode down to the 
door, leaving instructions that he should be 
called in case of a verdict, and proceeded to 
his room on the floor above. 

Penfield, busied as he was with his ques- 
tioners, was closely watching Martin, and, 
seeing Conkling rise and hurry after him, 
motioned to a young man who had been at 
his side all the day, and who, at a whispered 
instruction from Penfield hastened after 
Conkling returning almost instantly to report 
to Penfield who seemed much disturbed by the 
occurrence. 

Penfield resumed his conversation with the 
little band of faithful, worried, despairing 
men, resuming his cheerfulness as he pro- 
ceeded, his hearers listening attentively to his 
talk and sometimes nodding assent and some- 
times shaking their heads dubiously at his 
declarations. 



Minor Chords 153; 

Suddenly, just forty-five minutes after the 
jury had left the room, an attendant came 
hastily in, spoke to the assistant-clerk busy 
at the desk, who at once rose and went into 
the chambers, coming back followed in a mo- 
ment by the judge who was donning his black 
gown even as he entered the door. 

Martin came hurrying in and Penfield 
leisurely walked to his former place near the 
jury box. The prisoner was brought from 
the pen cell, white and trembling, for he now 
was to hear his doom. 

Penfield looked searchingly around the 
room, but Conkling had not re-entered. A 
whisper to his associate and the young man 
tiptoed out of the court room. 

The judge smacked the marble block in 
front of him with his gavel. The jury filed 
in solemnly and quietly took their seats in 
the box. 

The clerk rose and in a sing song way said, 
" Gentlemen, have you reached a verdict? " 

" We have," said the foreman, a man stern- 
faced but with honest gray eyes. 



154 3un Time and Cloud Time 

" Gentlemen of the jury, what Is your ver- 
dict?" The clerk's words were recited by 
rote, so many times had he said them. 

The stillness of the room was terrible; the 
air was filled with a tense suspense. 

" We find the defendant guilty of an at- 
tempt to commit burglary and we recommend 
him to the mercy of the court." 

Penfield sighed his relief and gratitude. 
The prisoner's eyes bulged, for he did not 
understand his salvation. Guilty of burglary ! 
It was he who was guilty; all his life honest; 
all his life a toiler; now a thief — the horror 
of it gripped his heart and his head sank on 
his breast. 

The group in the back, as little knowing 
as he, were sorrowed and depressed. Pen- 
field had not explained to him, nor to them, 
the difference In crime degrees. It was a 
hopeless case they had told him when they 
brought It to him, but the man was their 
friend and they must fight for him. It was a 
hopeless case he told himself but when he 
saw the man and heard his story he reached 
down to his fighting soul and drew the sword 



Minor Chords I155 

of his intellect and threw the scabbard away, 
and now he, and he alone of all who had 
fought with him, knew he had won. 

Martin, stung by his defeat, was instantly 
on his feet, but a surprised look from the 
judge stopped him and he sat down quietly 
but grim-faced and with hardened heart. 

" Poll the jury," directed the judge sitting 
back, twirling his eye glass in his fingers. The 
clerk called the roll of the twelve men, each 
stating that the verdict was as he had voted. 

Penfield slowly rose, looking around at the 
door; " If the court pleases I ask, and in my 
request I am joined by the attorney for the 
people, that the sentence upon the prisoner, to 
be made in accordance with this verdict, be 
suspended." 

Martin too had risen, and now was he 
Bulldog Martin in face, in voice, in manner. 
" Mr. Penfield," and his tone was a snarl, 
" has stated wrongfully that the District At- 
torney joins in the request for a suspension 
of sentence. The prosecuting attorney is 
amazed at the miscarriage of justice in this 
case. I — I move," and he hesitated for a mo- 



156 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

ment, his mind pondering the unusual pro- 
cedure, " I move that the verdict be set aside 
as against the weight of evidence — as 
against all the evidence." 

The judge shook his head, " Motion 
denied." 

And then as though his fury could not be 
contained Martin bellowed, " I ask that the 
utmost penalty of the law be Imposed on this 
defendant. I ask that he be sentenced to 
prison for the longest possible time. Here is 
a man caught committing a crime, with his 
plunder in his hands ; he comes Into this court 
and virtually admits his guilt. He offers no 
reason for the doing of the crime and cannot," 
and Martin thundered this, " and cannot bring 
one voucher for his good character, and with 
all this, these twelve Intelligent men," the 
sarcasm in Martin's words was too evident to 
be misunderstood and some of the jurymen 
fidgeted while the others started up angrily 
only to be restrained by the clash of the 
gavel, "says he is guilty of what? — a mis- 
demeanor! which is the same as saying he 
did not steal these things, — he did not com- 



Minor Chords 157J 

mit this crime — he is not a bad character. 
I ask the court to inflict the fullest penalty 
the law will allow, as that penalty is but little 
compared to the punishment the crime com- 
mitted merited." 

During this tirade Penfield had stood mo- 
tionless against the jury rail. The young 
clerk whom he had sent out came quietly up 
and handed him a Httle slip of paper which 
Penfield read, then he nodded and the young 
man sat down in the chair next to him. 

" The prosecuting attorney says," and there 
was a menace in Penfield's drawl, " that he did 
not join in my request for a suspension. I 
repeat that he gave me his consent to any 
request I should make, but I admit," and Pen- 
field turned on Martin, now sitting with his 
chair tilted back and watching him defiantly, 
" I admit that the consent, though given but 
a few moments ago, was given before a hap- 
pening which probably has altered the aspect 
of the matter in Mr. Martin's opinion, and, 
if Mr. Martin desires I shall later on state 
what Is that happening." Martin's composed 
features betrayed no uneasiness or anxiety, 



158 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

nevertheless, Penfield felt that Martin was 
wondering how much he knew of what had 
taken place. 

" If your honor pleases, I am prompted to 
make this request by these facts. The jury," 
and Penfield turned and bowed to the jury- 
men, who, though dismissed, still remained 
in their seats, " these men have recommended 
the defendant to your mercy. I know you 
will give weight to such a recommendation. 
Furthermore, they have found him guilty of 
a misdeameanor only, the utmost punishment 
of which is imprisonment for one year and a 
fine of five hundred dollars or either or both. 
The minimum, punishment is one day im- 
prisonment and a fine of one dollar or either 
or both, in your discretion. Under the law, 
you have the discretion to suspend sentence. 
It would be a cruel punishment to inflict upon 
this man, who stole food because he had no 
money, the penalty of a fine for he could not 
pay such, nor could his friends, who are poor 
as is he, pay any fine, and as he could not pay 
such a fine he would have to be Imprisoned 



Minor Chords 159 

to work out the fine at so much a day, there- 
fore the logical and natural penalty, if any be 
inflicted, would be imprisonment." 

" I asked mercy for the defendant from the 
jury, I ask mercy for him now from you. 
The jury of twelve men gave him all the 
mercy that righteous regard to justice and 
their consciences would allow — and they, 
having done so, ask you, too, to be merciful. 

" This man meant to steal; the jury say so, 
and we did not deny it, but what was stolen 
was food to be eaten by children and by a 
wife. It was not money to be squandered on 
dresses or drink or on illicit doings. It was 
food for hungering children and for a wife 
starving to death. 

" The children now are cared for in the 
home of a charitable organization. The wife 
is dead, not so much of starvation as of shame 
and sorrow. I did not tell this to the jury. 
It was not for them to be influenced by such 
woe, but it is proper for you the judge to 
know this that you may lay off from the pun- 
ishment you may be minded to inflict a part 



i6o Sun Time and Cloud Time 

as having been paid by the loss of his children, 
a part as being served by the loss of the wife 
he loved so well as to steal for her. His 
sorrow and his shame should cut down the 
term of imprisonment you may feel It neces- 
sary to sentence him to; surely a great part of 
the maximum sentence is so reduced. But 
he has been confined in jail three months. No 
one was there to give security to release him 
until he was tried and, therefore, I claim that 
his punishment is complete ■ — more than com- 
plete. I ask that he be released on suspended 
sentence, and I ask that Mr. Martin as prose- 
cuting attorney consent to such suspension." 

" Mr. Martin as prosecuting attorney," re- 
torted Martin, pounding the table, " abso- 
lutely refuses to consent to any commutation 
of sentence whatsoever, and Insists that the 
extreme penalty be imposed. The defendant 
even then is escaping much of his just dues." 

Penfield watching the judge as Martin 
spoke saw the slight tightening of his lips as 
Martin said, " Insists," and his hopes were 
raised a little. 

" Mr. Martin," the judge spoke coldly and 



Minor Chords i6i 

deliberately, " did you tell Mr. Penfield that 
you would consent to a suspension of sentence 
in this case? " 

" I did not," Martin said slowly, as a man 
who strives to speak some pondering thoughts, 
" I did not. I told Mr. Penfield I would con- 
sent to any request he made that was in 
reason." 

Penfield spoke, " Does it seem unreasonable 
where a man has been found guilty in such a 
degree of the crime charged, and where he has 
suffered as this defendant has, and where he 
has been imprisoned so long that further pun- 
ishment be suspended? If the court pleases 
at the time I spoke of when Martin gave 
me the consent, which he says was conditional, 
he was softened and inclined to be merciful. 
He is now hard, unbending, and merciless. 
What has caused this change? Why has he 
hardened and thrown out his mercy? " 

" If the court pleases," Martin sneered, 
" the prosecuting attorney is prompted by a 
feeling of duty only : He does not know the 
defendant. To him it is but a proceeding and 
the people depend upon him to keep their 



1 62 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

right inviolate and he is but striving im- 
partially, impersonally so to do." 

" That," and Penfield's voice vibrated with 
bitterness, " that is untrue. When Mr. Mar- 
tin gave me the assent to any proper request I 
might make he was prompted by impartial and 
unbiased feeling, but now I charge him with 
being actuated by personal interests, and I call 
the court's attention to the fact that during 
the concluding proceedings of the trial Mr. 
Martin was in communication, in conversa- 
tion, with Mr. Conkling, the general attorney 
for the manufacturing company for whom this 
defendant worked for nearly twenty-five years. 
After the jury went out Mr. Martin and Mr. 
Conkling, whom I allege is here in the interest 
of this company as against this defendant, 
whom they claim was leader in the labor trou- 
bles they have had, were in conference in Mr. 
Martin's room and I further say that Mr. 
Conkling is even now in Mr, Martin's office 
waiting to hear from Mr. Martin as to the 
verdict and the sentence. I do not know what 
the consideration was or is," and Penfield 
turned on Martin accusingly, " but I do know 



Minor Chords 163 

that Mr. Martin has changed from a prose- 
cutor to a persecutor." 

Penfield ceased, white as the prisoner, while 
Martin's face was reddened with rage and re- 
sentment, yet he could but stand speechless. 

The venerable judge, unmoved and calm, 
waited for a minute, then, as both lawyers sat 
down, looked steadily at the prisoner saying, 
" Defendant Monroe, you committed a crime; 
the jury with all their mercy to you say so ; you 
have said so; your lawyer has said so; the 
motive has not been denied, either by you or 
by the prosecution ; the necessity that prompt- 
ed you does not excuse the crime, but the 
crime done from necessity is not so heinous as 
one done by desire of some non-necessitous 
thing. But you have done wrong, you have 
broken a law, therefore you must suffer pun- 
ishment for so doing." There was a long 
pause while the judge tried to look into the 
very being of the prisoner who looked at him 
respectfully but unflinchingly. " You have 
had much punishment; your home gone; your 
children gone; your wife gone forever." The 
prisoner's mouth quivered. " You have been 



164 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

confined for three months In jail without lib- 
erty. This is your first offense. I suspend 
sentence." 

The judge wheeled around in his chair, 
nodded to Penfield and to Martin, and rising 
went to his chambers. 

Penfield reached over and seized Monroe's 
hand with a hearty clasp, turned to the jury 
with a grateful, " thank you, gentlemen," and 
then turning faced Martin who was striding 
toward the door. 

Martin stopped, looking Penfield square in 
the face and almost shouted, " This is a most 
wanton abuse of justice ! " 

" It Is so," Penfield quietly said, picking up 
his papers; *' do you intend to prosecute the 
real criminals? " 



MISTRESS DOROTHY, 

Needless it is for me to speak of myself at 
all in this narration. Nay! fain would I not 
speak at all of these happenings, were it not 
for the defaming and reviling of a good gen- 
tleman, who, enlisted though he be in an 
unrighteous and rebellious cause, hath yet left 
upon my mind and heart the impress of a 
man of good intent but of perverted action; 
therefore, I deem it doth behoove me to tell, 
with all honesty of purpose and without a 
deviation from the rigid line of strict truth, 
all that did happen on the Sabbath morn of 
yestermonth when Mr. Washington (for it 
befits me ill to grant title of General to him 
who holds not the King's Commission as such, 
yet who still is an English subject), attended 
divine service at our church, and concerning 
whose behavior then so much of ill-fame hath 
been spread. 

i6ii 



1 66 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Sad it is, In these days of beauteous June, 
when nature hath arrayed herself in flower 
and blossom bedecked vernal garb, that man 
shouldst war with man, and brother lift hand 
against brother. It is my daily, earnest 
prayer that these unruly malcontents be quick- 
ly subdued, and that the power of His Gra- 
cious Majesty be fully restored, yet, I do hope 
and pray that Mr. Washington will see the 
error of his doing, and will sue for pardon 
ere it be too late, for I feel 'twould grieve me 
much were he to have meted out to him such 
punishment as merits such rebellious strife. 

Truly these are troublous times and I can 
scarce compose my mind for the simple duties 
of my humble office, or quell my fears while 
performing them, yet, am I not upheld and 
encouraged by the calm and serene demeanor 
of Doctor Inglis, and the intrepid and un- 
flinching manner in which Mr. Wharton meets 
all the perplexities and dangers. Dr. Inglis, 
to whom I have told my intent to publish this, 
hath approved of my doing, though first did 
he write to Doctor Auchmuty at New Bruns- 
wick, who, in his reply to Dr. Inglis' letter 



Minor Chords .167 

highly commended my action, so just a man 
is our good Rector. 

When Mr. Ogilvie died two years ago, 
Doctor Inglis, who hath ever been my adviser 
and my friend, and who first impulsed me into 
the paths of Godly servitude, requested that 
I be given Mr. Ogilvie's place, but Doctor 
Auchmuty, deeming me over young for such 
an exalted office, gave preference to Mr. 
Wharton, who, besides having more years 
than were mine, had received much favor- 
able notice for his work amongst the negroes 
and the natives; yet our good Rector, desir- 
ing not to slight me, nor to deprive me of my 
living, made office for me subordinate to Mr. 
Wharton. 

Laymen, and indeed some of churchly habit 
and proclivities, who know him not so well, do 
not perceive in Mr. Wharton the devoutness 
and sincerity of a man of God; tall is he, with 
strong and straight limbs, and broad of back, 
and too, loud voiced yet not unseemingly so. 
Ofttimes have I watched him as, arrayed in 
his holy garments, he hath read the lesson or 
expounded the gospels; truly his are vigorous 



1 68 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

exhortations and showeth a spirit militant 
turned to God. Verily, I believe 'tis well 
that we meeker ones of the Church have some 
few such in our midst; we gaining power 
from their strength, they gaining grace from 
our humility. 

When Doctor Auchmuty in the Spring, at 
the coming of the Rebels into our city, re- 
moved his family and his household goods to 
his summer home at New Brunswick, his 
duties devolved on Doctor Inglis, who, for 
their better protection against the insults and 
assaults of the rabble (yet doth not justice de- 
mand that I say, well are they held in check 
by those who hath command over them) , hast 
sent his family and some of his possessions to 
the home of his friends someways up Hud- 
son's River, and with Mistress Dorothy, his 
niece, who refuses to leave him, hath taken an 
abode in the Rectory. Mistress Dorothy is 
most devoted to her Uncle, and, since her 
coming back to us from London, where she 
hath been staying some years, she hath done 
much to keep our hearts strong; Nay! I doubt 
not but by her fearlessness and virtuous power 



'Minor Chords 169 

we all are preserved from wounds and may- 
hap death. 

Long time it is since Mistress Dorothy and 
I sat side by side, on our little stools in good 
old Master Brightly's school room, striving, 
in awe and tribulation, to gather into our re- 
bellious minds the lessons he would teach to 
us. Such a demure little maid was she, with 
soft, dimpled cheek with hue of this month's 
rose; Ah me, I wonder if that cheek hath lost 
its softness; once 'twas mine the privilege to 
know, and now, Oh! I trust none hath that 
right again as yet; her hair was lighter then 
than now, but not so glossy; didst ever see 
hair of brown that glistens as doth hers? 
Her lips — but I must not speak of such else 
I'll be overcome by yearning for their sweet 
touch; e'en then her body gave a promise that 
kind time hath in goodly measure fulfilled. 
Strange it is, that feelings akin to rancor rise 
in my breast, exerting me to greatest spiritual 
efforts to subdue them, when roving eyes rest 
on her swelling bosom, or glance covertly 
at her dainty foot and trim ankle. Ofttimes, 
since her return, doth she tell of some newly 



170 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

remembered doing whilst away from us and 
eager do I listen, until she speaks of some 
dancing affair, and then hasten I to say adieu 
or to make excuse that I may not hear of any 
hand that hath held hers or any ruthless' arm 
that in some stately measure did' encircle her 
gracesome waist. 

In those old days, we slept cribbed together, 
■for father nor mother had I within my mem- 
ory, save Doctor Inglis and his dear wife who 
did befriend me almost from my birth; nor 
have I ever violated the sanctity of that un- 
conscious bed. Ay ! Stainless hath been my 
life, for could I do evil having ever her purity 
before me. True, I speak never now of that 
time, but ofttimes a thrill passes through me 
at the memory thereof. 

Many times, when boy and girl, we wan- 
dered through the fields and in the woods, 
plucking roses, picking the wild berries, and 
searching for trailing arbutus and the hidden 
wood violet; oh! so happy in our freedom, 
until I, timid Knight, with naught of temer- 
ity, would restrain my Princess from going or 
doing as hadst been forbidden; then wouldst 



Minor Chords 17 1 

she, pouting, turn her way homeward, un- 
speaking and disdaining, whilst I would walk 
behind, sorrowed, and the sun of my happi- 
ness hid by the clouds of her anger; but stay, 
I must not maunder thus, I do forget my con- 
secration and speak over much of myself. 

Many were there then, who loved the little 
maiden; Oh! how our hearts grieved when 
her father, long in the King's service In for- 
eign stations, sent for her to come to him, as 
he, returning to England, yearned for his 
dear daughter whom he had seen not since she 
was but a babe : Nay, 'twas a tearful time e'en 
for the woman folks, and as for me I went 
not near the embarking but fled out to the 
fields and woods, our fields and our woods, 
and there, stretched out on the leaf-strewn 
ground, I sobbed and moaned out my pain 
and grief whilst none were near me. 

Dreary were my days and long for a while 
after her departure, but the good Doctor, who 
had taken up my instruction, deemed It wiser 
that I should enter the King's College and 
most kindly, by strong effort, obtained for me 
a tutorship there, which did maintain me while 



172 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

I prepared and trained for the service of the 
Church, and now am I striving to exalt the 
Lord and teach His holy word. 

How long it is since she did go and now 
hath she returned stately and beautiful; be- 
sought and bepraised: yet do I see no differ- 
ence in her soul or heart, save that I stand 
aloof where former times I was so close ; Yea ! 
kind was she when she bade the bevy of gal- 
lants and King's officers to make me a way to 
her and certain it is her face was smiling as I 
gave her welcome, and she took my hand 
with much graciousness, and did she not say 
she was most glad to see me once again, and 
called me her dearest friend. Ah ! how my 
heart filled with the happiness of that mo- 
ment, and since her coming back to us, the 
days have been so happy; Yea! were it not 
for this dreadful warring, truly could we 
deem ourselves most blessed. 

Ofttimes since I became acquainted with 
Mr. Wharton I strove to speak with him of 
her, for fain would I talk of her, and 
my heart yearned to confide the love it 
bore for her, but each time Fd speak, he 



Minor Chords 173 

bade me speak not thus, or else had much to 
do to prevent. I did not know that ever had 
he met her, he spake never so, but, it doth 
seem, that e'er he came to us he had spent 
some time in London and had met her there. 
I do therefore wonder at his reticence, for 
surely one who loves, eager should be to hear 
of his dear one : In truth, my tongue could 
babble ever be she but on it. 

First did we know of their acquaintance 
when her Uncle and I, being with her, she 
spoke concerning his whereabouts, he then 
being at New Brunswick aiding Doctor Auch- 
muty in setting up his house. Much surprised 
was I, and I confess not overpleased, for I 
deemed it churlish in him to have refrained 
from telling me of his knowing her; surely 
much could he have told me of her doings 
while away, and hungered was I ever for such 
news. Nay, on his return, I reproached him 
and too whilst she was near and covered was 
he with such confusion that he answered me 
not. Methinks she too deemed him in the 
wrong, for stayed she not long while I did 
speak, but left us hastily ere I did end my say. 



174 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

I think not there was much of friendship be- 
tween them whilst away, for little warmth 
could I detect in their greeting on his return, 
and well did I watch them, for love is argus- 
eyed as well as blind, as does contend Mr. 
Shakespeare. It is but of late my heart has 
worried been, and now doth the pangs entor- 
ture me constant. Nay ! not yet shall I yield, 
but shall I not strive valiant that her love be 
mine, and if it be not so, then to whom could 
I give her with a surety that her soul be in 
good keep, if not to him. I pray constant 
that she bestows her heart not upon that de- 
praved soldier John Haynes, whose eyes see 
naught but the beauties of her fair face and 
blooming body; Nay, he hath not godliness 
of spirit and is carnal in his living; still must 
I, in candor, tell that most courageous is he 
and greatly trusted by Mr. Washington who 
hath highly praised him, nor hath he told us 
this himself, but rather have we heard of these 
from others. 

Alas ! women are of fraility and a great 
stalwart man,, of shapely leg, and straight 
back and handsome face doth outvie one of 



Minor Chords I175 

such meagreness of stature and sallowness of 
cheek as are mine, but truly mine is the 
stronger mind and the better character, and, 
with her, surely such will outweigh the others. 

Mr. Haynes (he is termed Colonel by his 
fellow rebels but I cannot so call him), first 
met our Mistress Dorothy when he presented 
to Dr. Inglis letters introductory, written by 
his mother, who lives in Boston, and who 
deeply deplores her son's dereliction from the 
King's service (for he once held His Maj- 
esty's commission) , to Doctor Auchmuty, who 
she begs will strive to open his eyes to his 
great offense and wrongdoing. Since that 
first meeting, his attendance at Church services 
hath been the wonder of his fellows, who hast 
ever known him to be averse to sacred asso- 
ciations; whilst his calls and visits, many 
though they have been, hath yielded naught 
to the furtherance of the desire of his mother, 
so abmpt are they, if Mistress Dorothy be 
not there, and so tediously long if she doth 
receive him. 

Truly, the little irritation of my nature doth 
arise on these occasions; moreover, it doth 



176 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

seem that he hath done much to install into her 
mind some of the virulent poison of this 
infamous rebellion. Verily do I protest to 
her against her questioning concerning the 
supposed and preposterous claims of these 
rebels, who hath not a righteous cause ; yet do 
I hesitate to answer her, for hard it is to prove 
the unrighteousness thereof. The good Doc- 
tor is much disquieted, and he watches her 
most anxiously for 'twould grievous be were 
she to espouse the cause of these rebellious 
people, but I do needless worry, our Dorothy 
will ever loyal be. 

It is my customed duty on the Sabbath day 
early to go to the Church and see that Mr. 
Washburn, who now acts as our sexton, right- 
ly performs his duties so all may be in keeping 
with God's holiness; and that Sabbath I did 
even so. 

How beautiful was the morn; the sun shone 
with a soft brightness; the grass in the yard, 
and in the fields beyond, was freshly green; 
the air was sweet and warm; the trees, newly 
leaved, were burst in fragrant blossom or yet 
full budded ; down through the hedges and the 



Minor Chords 177' 

bush clumps the bay and the river sparkled 
and glistened; the birds, flitting or perched, 
chirped and twittered, and sang out their 
praise melodies. 

I attended, myself, the unlocking of the 
doors, bespoke the opening of the windows 
that the soft spring air might enter, and did 
my other duties as became my office. Whilst 
so doing, I heard the heavy clatter of horses, 
which ceased at the Church-yard, so I bade 
Mr. Washburn see who was there, for I 
feared some violation of our property. 
Quickly did he return to me, and told me that 
two men, officers, he said, in the rebel army, 
awaited my presence In the little yard that 
abuts on the broad road that runs back of our 
Church. Some intuition bade me fear; and 
so, hastily arraying myself in my ecclesiastical 
garments, I went forth filled with forebod- 
ings, but fortified by a moment's prayer. 

Truly was I shocked, when, descending the 
steps from the vestry door, I saw the monster 
named Lee who Is called General by the 
Rebels. Truly do I think he Is considered 
with aversion even by his own companies. 



178 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Coarse is he and gross in body and in mind; 
Fat jowled are his cheeks, and bulging his 
eyes, which hath a fishy stare. Sorry was I to 
see him, nor did the presence of Mr. Haynes, 
who stood somewhat away, reheve my appre- 
hension for I could discern in his open counte- 
nance trouble and vexation. The monster 
cried, " Who are you, Sir? " Said I with an 
unaffected dignity; " Sir, I have the high priv- 
ilege of serving the Lord as an assistant to the 
good Doctor Auchmuty who is Rector of this 
parish " — thus spake I, but he didst interrupt, 
and bellowed, 

" Who holds service here to-day, Sir? " 
Truly I know not what prompted me in my 
answer to him, for I didst reply, " I do. Sir," 
nor was I untruthful therein, for Doctor Inglis 
often allowed Mr. Wharton and myself to 
officiate, and 'twas but the previous Sabbath 
that Mr. Wharton had been so allowed, and 
to-day therefore could be mine if I so re- 
quested of the good Doctor. Truly my pur- 
pose was to prevent the Doctor from being 
put to anxiety and trouble. 

" Well, be he who he may ! " snarled he, 



Minor Chords 179 

with the face of a demon gloating over some 
poor, lost soul, " I come to inform you, that 
General Washington will honor your services 
this morn by his presence, and I do bid 
you that naught must be said to the King's 
praise or benefit! " 

Truly did I pale and almost did I reel, for 
long had we feared this, and now had it fallen 
on us. My white face seemed to please him, 
for he leered and said, " Come, Sir ! heard 
you not my words ? What say you ! " 

I had no need to answer him, for Mr. 
Wharton, who it seems had stood just inside 
the doorway, unseen, but hearing, came quietly 
down the steps and to us, and said unfaltering- 
ly, " Nay ! surely you mean not such a bid- 
ding; know you not that we servants of the 
Lord can change not a whit the services laid 
down and ordained for our teaching; Nay! we 
cannot do your bidding, though we will wel- 
come Mr. Washington to our temple." 

And then this fiend, purple faced and rag- 
ing, cried out, " It must be done so, and, if it 
be not done so, the consequences be upon your 
own heads, and your blood be on your own 



i8o Sun Time and Cloud Time 

hands," and this with such dreadful cursings 
and blaspheming that Mr. Wharton, whose 
face paled, cried out, "Peace, Sir! Respect 
the sanctuary of the Lord," but, alas! to no 
avail. 

And then, like an angel sent to rebuke a 
devil and to deliver from his power, poor sin- 
ners, came Mistress Dorothy, out of the 
vestry, down the steps and to us. 

" Nay," said she, and high was her color, 
but low her voice, " If thou canst not respect 
God's holy edifice, I pray you respect me a 
woman, and cease thy evil-sounding words." 

Truly was he, for the moment, abashed, 
and then, his evil nature even pregnant with 
bastard foulness, he sneered, and said, " What 
early sequestered devotees." 

So engrossed was I in my timid fears I un- 
derstood him not, but Mr. Wharton's hands 
clinched and his eyes inflamed, but ere he could 
move e'en his finger, Mr. Haynes bounded 
forward, and said thickly, " You scoundrel ! 
To me will you answer for this." Then did 
I perceive the import of his words, and truly 
could I have done him harm, man of God 



Minor Chords i8i 

though I am, but she, though her eyes were 
filled with tears and her Hps trembled, said 
with quietness, " Nay ! quarrel not with such 
a one; hold thyself for battling with men not 
beasts. Colonel Haynes," and he, reluctant, 
obeyed her, and now I know that hers was the 
better way, so do our passions blind us. Ven- 
geance Is the Lord's, let us not do the work 
He hath reserved for His own hands. 

When thus she spoke he stared at her, and 
most then did I fear, so lustful were his eyes; 
and then Mr. Wharton who, too, didst see 
him look, said sternly, "If you have more to 
say, say what you will, and then go." 

He turned and looked at us all and then 
he smiled with grimness and unmerciful, 
" Naught else have I to say, save that if my 
orders be not obeyed, I shall answer neither 
for your life nor your Church," and his eyes 
wandered gloatingly from ourselves to the 
Church and its environments. He then 
turned with a curt command to Mr. Haynes 
and they both mounted their horses and rode 
away. 

Dismayed and terrified, we stood silent, 



1 82 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

watching them as they galloped along until 
a turn in their course hid them from our view. 
Then spake out Mistress Dorothy, with tre- 
mored voice, " Uncle must not preach to-day. 
Surely services on one occasion can be sus- 
pended? " 

Mr. Wharton said, and slow was his ut- 
terance, " Nay ! your Uncle hath not the 
power to do so, save with Doctor Auchmuty's 
sanction, nor should the word of the Lord be 
hushed by the ravings of man; nevertheless, 
harm must not be done your Uncle; I shall 
hasten to him and beg him to allow me to 
officiate this morn, and prevail upon him to 
leave not his study." "Nay!" said I, and 
I confess regretfully, a wave of indignation 
and resentment swept through my being, so 
eager was I that I shouldst do for her and 
not let him do so. " 'Twas but last Sabbath, 
and the previous one, that you didst so of- 
ficiate ; to-day is my Sabbath for so doing, and 
I will hasten to the Rectory, and beg the right 
to read the lessons and to preach this morn." 

" Nay ! " said he, and I fear we would 
have quarrelled had she not said, " I beg of 



Minor Chords 183 

you that you quibble not as to who doth have 
the right, but that you hasten there and do 
obtain for one the privilege," and then she 
faltered, " but there is danger too for that 
one." 

Oft do I wonder that I noticed not toward 
which of us looked she when she so spake, 
but saw I only her paling cheek; in my trou- 
ble then and worry concerning the safety of 
our Church and our pastor, I thought not of 
myself. Fain would I think 'twas I she 
looked at, so selfish are we all. 

Whilst we thus stood speaking, we observed 
a horseman. In uniform, galloping past us but 
made no comment thereof, so engrossed In 
our troubles were we ! Then came another 
dashing recklessly up the broadway, at great 
speed, whom on his near approach discerned 
we to be Mr. Haynes, who had left us so 
soon since. Dismountng at the rail fence, he 
hastily tied his horse, and then with head 
uncovered he came to us. His face was white 
and drawn, though his eyes were gleaming 
and his teeth were set together. He bowed 
and strove to speak but failed, for the mo- 



184 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

ment, so great was his emotion. Finally, he 
said with great effort, " Miss Inglis, and you, 
gentlemen, I beg you that you strive with best 
endeavors that none speak within this place 
this morn, or else speak not of the King. 
— I fear me that bloodshedding will fol- 
low, if such Is done, for orders hath been 
given that if one word against our cause or to 
the glory and benefit of the King be spoke, 
that the speaker be fired on and the Church 
be razed." 

Mr. Wharton said with great horror and 
indignation, " And does Mr. Washington 
countenance such barbarity? " 

Mr. Haynes replied sadly, " He has left it 
all to General Lee, and all that he may do will 
perforce be sanctioned." 

And then. Mistress Dorothy, turning dis- 
dainfully from Mr. Haynes, said coldly, 

" As Colonel Haynes is one of General 
Washington's officers he must necessarily sus- 
tain these doings also, so if he will but excuse 
me, I beg of him to return and aid in such 
preparation as must needs be made toward 
making successful such sacrilege." 



Minor Chords 185 

In truth 'twas most unchristlike that these 
words did please me, but I do confess even so; 
so frail is man who ever seeks the belittle- 
ment of others and the praise of himself. 

High swept the blood In Mr. Haynes' face, 
and with choking voice, he said, " You do me 
wrong, Miss Inglis; I shall have naught to do 
with this atrocious thing, but will ever try tO' 
aid you." 

Then Mr. Wharton said, and In his voice 
I did perceive some pity for him, " Mr. 
Haynes, I shall preach here to-day In place 
of Dr. Inglis." 

Mr. Haynes looked at him coldly, for 
whilst neither bore any enmity toward the 
other, yet have I seen a coolness between them, 
and yet, once. It Is said, were they friends of 
close familiarity. Then said he and his brow 
cleared somewhat, " That is well ! You will 
then omit all observances to the King." 

" Nay," said Mr. Wharton calmly, " That 
I shall not do, for I cannot do so." 

" But," said Mr. Haynes, and his face 
clouded once again, " Then you will suffer 
even as would Doctor Inglis," and as he said 



1 86 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

it he looked not at Mr. Wharton, nor at me, 
but at her, but no sign gave she. 

" So be it," said Mr. Wharton, with no 
tremor of voice or sign of fear, " If ill betide 
me, it is good to have died for one's con- 
victions," and then he added softly, " Even 
as you may, Jack Haynes." 

They looked into each other's eyes for a 
moment and then Mr. Haynes said brusquely, 
" As you will, but does Doctor Inglis con- 
sent to this sacrifice? " 

" He shall not know of it," said Mr. 
Wharton quietly. 

" Not know of it," said Mr. Haynes in 
great surprise. " Why, know you not that 
General Lee has sent peremptory orders to 
him at the Rectory, for, after we did leave 
you, he did question me close, and in truth 
was I compelled to tell who was who, and of 
your several offices." 

And then once more dread, and dismay, 
and heart sickness sat upon us, for well knew 
we the good Doctor wouldst forbid any taking 
his place at such a time, nor, as we knew full 



Minor Chords 187 

well, would he cease his services or abridge 
them as was commanded. 

!And so we stood each racking our minds 
for some escape, but I could see noways. 
'Twas Mistress Dorothy who first spoke, and 
she said quietly but with an odd ring in her 
tones, " Mr. Wharton, will you kindly seek 
my Uncle at the Rectory, and strive to induce 
him to cease from services this day, and you," 
said she, to me, sweetly, " Wilt enter the 
Church and arrange the poor spring blossoms 
I have gathered to adorn the altar." We 
both bowed acquiescent, but waited, wonder- 
ing whither went she. " Nay ! " said she, 
" but please me by doing as I did request," 
and SO' we went off half-unwillingly, leaving 
her with Mr. Haynes. Awhile they stood, 
she talking to him, I watching them through 
the open door, then did they walk down the 
Broadway, he beside her, leading his horse, 
and neither saying one word. 

Sore perplexed and fearful, stood I, and 
watched; wondering whither went they, and 
why, nor yet was mine a jealous, selfish mood, 



1 8 8! Sun Time and Cloud Time 

for well I knew, that, at that moment, no 
thought had Mr. Haynes save that of succour 
for us, yet my heart sighed and my soul was 
troubled that in the moment of her distress 
he should be at her side, whilst she didst bid 
me leave her. 

When they had gone from my sight I re- 
tired to the study room, and poured out my 
fears to the Lord. Long time I prayed, crav- 
ing the vanquishment of our enemies and the 
sustaining of the Lord's words; while thus 
doing Doctor Inglis and Mr. Wharton came 
with slow and sobered steps into the room. 
Ceased then I my pleadings. The good Doc- 
tor's face shone through its pallor with the 
holy light that alone comes from the determi- 
nation of doing the right against all that may 
betide. 

Tenderly, and with much affection, did he 
place his hands upon us, and, thus standing, 
he exhorted us to be of strong faith and 
valiant, as didst become the chosen of the 
Lord; to fear not nor to be dismayed; ever 
lifting upward our eyes to see e'en the fleet- 
ing glimpses of our Lord; ever to strain our 



Minor Chords [189 

ears to hearken to e'en the whispers of our 
God who speaks not always aloud; to walk 
forward even though we grope in darkness. 
" Stumbling upward," saith he, " Is better far 
than running swiftly downward," " Yield not 
one inch of the ground gained in the course 
of the Lord, but stand firm, yea, to He still 
in death, rather than to lively flee." 

Then did he lift up his eyes, and open his 
voice to his God, and pray, that he might 
be given succour, not for himself, but for his 
people's sake; that the wrath of our foes be 
softened toward us, and their hearts melted; 
that they might be turned from their evil pur- 
poses and their errors, and then he begged 
that sustaining grace be given him and all of 
us for the trials that were come upon us; that 
the Lord whose arms are ever about us would 
lift us up to His bosom, and, e'en though we 
weep In pain, would there be no fear. 

While thus he spake, and prayed, the pa- 
rishioners, slowly were entering and going to 
their accustomed sittings; and so the good 
Doctor bade Mr. Wharton and myself to go 
among them and make them acquainted with 



.190 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

the distress brought to us that they who 
wished might not endanger their lives; and so 
we did, and some there were, who, timid ever, 
hastened to depart and spread the tidings 
round about, but few these were and the major 
part of our people, so strong were their con- 
victions and so great their love for their pas- 
tor, stayed, and sat praying and resolute, some 
with fearful faces, others hard and bitter in 
their attitude. 

Our good sexton had rung the bell, as was 
his wont, and now, as the hour neared for the 
beginning of the services, my heart beat heav- 
ily in my bosom, and I felt choked and stifled, 
so, robed in my surplice though I was, I went 
out through the vestry door into our little 
back-yard, and there saw I, the instruments 
of our undoing gathering In great numbers; 
Grouped and in pairs and singly came they, 
armed with musket and with sabre, with pistol 
and with stave; some bearing fagots for the 
burning of our temple; Forbidding was their 
appearance, yet too were they ludicrous; a 
motley crew, with ragged uniforms and an- 
cient accoutrements, yet none the less deadly 



Minor Chords 191 

to an unarmed enemy as were we. Verily, 
when the King's troops with their mighty 
weapons and their brilliant trappings doth 
confront them, they will look a sorry figure. 

Truly did they scoff at me with jeerlngs 
and scowls, but I heeded them not and stood 
there gaining strength and grace from their 
very venom, nor did I rebuke them, for well 
I knew 'twas foolhardy and would avail me 
nothing. 

Many curious ones had gathered around 
the Church, for, by this time was the trouble 
well known, and low-breathed, bitter words 
were spoke against the ruffian's bands, and 
against their leader, and many were the dark 
looks of hatred shown, for, glory be to God, 
our people are loyal people In the main, and 
do uphold the sovereignty of His Gracious 
Majesty. 

Then, did I see turning Into the broadway, 
far down, toward the Battery Green, a little 
cortege, and I knew our trial time was come. 
Slowly and almost solemnly Mr. Washington 
and his officers approached, holding their 
horses In check, and greeted with acclama- 



192 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

tions and cheers by their followers. Hearing 
the clamor, Doctor Inglis and Mr. Wharton 
arrayed in their holy vestments came out and 
stood with me. The little band of horsemen 
reached the rail fence, and Mr. Washington 
dismounted, followed by his officers, and then 
did he advance toward us. Eagerly did I 
search, but I saw neither Mr. Haynes, nor 
that Monster Lee. 

Then stepped out Mr. Washington; truly 
Vv'ould I tell of him but 'twould be treason 
were I to exalt and praise him; slowly came 
he unto us, we three, standing there, a pitiful 
force to oppose a mighty one. Doctor Inghs, 
calm and serene; Mr. Wharton with face un- 
ruffled yet stern eyed; whilst I couldst not 
keep my lip from quivering, e'en though I dug 
my nails into my palm's flesh 'till blood did 
come. 

" Sirs," said Mr. Washington, and gracious 
was his voice, " It has been my custom, if it 
be a possible doing, to attend divine service 
each Sabbath morn. To-day, I beg that I be 
allowed to enter this sanctuary and listen to 
the discourse and partake of the communion." 



Minor Chords 193 

Then did I know nor deem I it disloyal 
to say so, a man who spake like this could 
not be wholly evil, and without pity or be 
merciless; Nay! on my disquiet fell a peace 
and a calm that eased the ache of my heart 
and soul. 

Doctor Inglis spake with trembling words 
for he too was much affected by this man's 
utterance. " Sir," said he, " 'Tis the privi- 
lege of all to enter God's holy house, and to 
listen and to pray; and to those who hath been 
consecrated to God and our Church is the 
privilege of communion given, nor any man 
is there who can bid such nay, save such hath 
been adjudged unworthy of such privilege." 

" Yea ! " said Mr. Washington gravely, 
" To me has that privilege been given, nor 
has it from me been taken," and then he added 
sadly, " as yet." 

And then, all praise and glory be to the 
Lord, God Jehovah, who marketh the spar- 
row's fall, and who doth stretch out his hands 
to save us all from evil and from woe, Mr. 
Washington turned to his officers, who stood 
a little ways from him ; said he, " Gentlemen, 



194 ^"^ Time and Cloud Time 

It is my pleasure that you await me outside 
this house of God this happy May Sabbath; 
I bid you take station some at each door of 
this holy edifice, and, while disallowing none 
who fain would enter to do so, it is not seemly 
that men with arms in their hands should 
enter so, and I bid you warn and order that 
no man do aught to sacrilege nor defile in any 
manner whatsoever this sanctuary, and if 
there be any who likes not the word of God 
or the lessons as laid down in the ritual for 
the utterence of these men of God, then let 
such not enter. I bid you and hold you each 
responsible that there be no disturbance of 
our services this morn." 

Almost In stupor stood we and whilst we 
stood, and even as he spake, came Mistress 
Dorothy with Mr. Haynes; her face, suffused 
with blushes though It was, beamed with a 
glad thankfulness and silent she stood with 
eyes cast down and hands clasped till he had 
done. Then did he turn to her and, bowing, 
said. In courteous way, " Mistress Dorothy, I 
pray you do allow me to sit beside you this 
morn," and then he added, " By this may I 



Minor Chords 195 

show my greater devotion to the Lord, that 
I be not distracted from the service by thy 
presence near me." 

And so went they in, she leaning on his 
arm, we following with prayers of thanksgiv- 
ing on our lips. 

My doings during the service time that 
morn is hid in mist; Full well I know I did 
my part as did become me, yet I saw but her 
face raised from the pew to us; I heard but 
her voice out of the full hymning. 

Naught disturbed us in our gathering; nor 
loud boisterousness was there outside; most of 
those who had gathered to do mischief slunk 
away unsatisfied ; whilst some few entered but 
stirred not, nor murmured, when the King's 
prayer was said : and when I saw Mr. Wash- 
ington eat of the bread and drink of the 
wine, the body and blood of our Christ, I 
knew he was my brother, and glad am I of it, 
rebel though he be. 

Dr. Inglis, after the Church was emptied, 
save of us, bade us to his home, and there we 
learned from her dear lips of the manner of 
our salvation, for 'twas she, woman though 



196 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

she is, who saved us and our Church. On 
our importunating, and the Doctor's bidding, 
she told with flushings of cheek and heaving 
of bosom, how, when we, perplexed and fear- 
ful saw no way of escape, she conceived a 
way; saith she, " Much had I heard of the 
goodness and gallantry of Mr. Washington, 
and, though I did hesitate from thrusting my- 
self into his presence, and more though I 
feared to pass the gaping crows of armed 
men, and flirting officers, yet did I prevail 
upon Colonel Haynes to escort me thither, 
and to gain me access to his hearing; This 
did Colonel Haynes do, and surely was I suf- 
fered to go to the tavern unmolested, and, 
moreover, while he didst seek for me an au- 
dience with Mr. Washington, was I protected 
by the taverner's daughter into whose charge 
gave he me, with many biddings to have me 
not intruded on, nor was I so; nor did I wait 
for long, for soon was I ushered all abashed 
before Mr. Washington.* 

" Truly was he gallant and most gracious, 
and stood before me whilst I sat, for he didst 



Minor Chords 197 

bid me sit, which most gladly did I, for my 
legs were all tremble and most weak; I 
know," said she and the tears stood welling 
her eyes, " My voice didst shake, for he bade 
me fear not and to speak as I would; So did 
I, telling him of the coming of General Lee, 
and of his biddings, and of our tribulation, 
and our fears, and though my cheeks burned 
did I tell him of the cursings of that man, 
and verily methinks was he angered, though 
said he nothing, and when I did tell him of 
the threats of sacrilege and danger to us, was 
he much agitated, yet did he not speak till 
I didst finish my say. Then didst I beg of 
him not so to deal with us so harshly, but to 
be of mercy to us, and fain would I kneel, but 
he would permit me not but lifted me up, 
and bade me sit as before, and said so sadly, 
* mine enemies fear I not, as fear I my 
friends,' and then said I, ' Colonel Haynes can 
tell that I speak but truthfully,' ' Nay! ' said 
he, * I do believe your teUing,' but rang he 
for Colonel Haynes, who came hastily, being 
near by in waiting, and they spake together, 



198 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

Mr. Washington in low gentle way, but Col- 
onel Haynes not so softly, but in anger to- 
wards General Lee. 

" And then he turned to me and bade me 
go with Colonel Haynes, nor to have fear of 
any harm for me or mine, and I was com- 
forted, and peace came upon me, for well 
knew I no harm could come upon us if he 
willed it not, and I arose and curtseyed to 
him and thanked him with many tears, for 
though he be a rebel he truly is a good man 
and a gentle one, nor think I he had known 
one whit of those intents of General Lee's." 

When she had done we spake not a while, 
but sat in thought; Then spake Doctor Inglis, 
saying, " Yea, that he be ! " and I saw ap- 
proval in Mr. Wharton's manner, and my 
heart yearned toward him then in grateful 
sorrow that he is a rebel, for surely is he one 
of the greatest men of mine acquaintance. 

Little more is there for me to say; many 
hath gone about defaming Mr. Washington, 
and now that he hath gone, venomous tongues 
do spit against him. Truly, I deem it but a 
duty that I tell these things that they who 



Minor Chords 199 

hear may know the full truth of the happen- 
ings of that Sabbath morning. It is true that 
General Lee hast received not the punishment 
that well he merits, but Colonel Haynes hath 
told us that he hath great power with some 
of the men of politics, who hath shielded him 
often before as now; I sadly fear that Mr. 
Washington will be hurt grievously yet by this 
man. 

Since then we have wended our ways as was 
our wont, yet we fear much that soon must 
we close our Church. Even now Doctor 
Inglis is in New Brunswick with Doctor 
Auchmuty conferring as to the advisability of 
so doing; with him hath gone Mistress Doro- 
thy, and, truly the days seemeth long and not 
so happy. Mr. Wharton and I have charge 
of the parish and busy are we both, nor do 
we speak much of her, yet many times I would 
broach such converse, but he hath much else 
to talk of. Once only hath he spoke of her, 
and that was when we heard through one who 
came thence, that Colonel Haynes had taken 
his abode In that town, having been assigned 
thereto by Mr. Washington, It being on the 



200 Sun Time and Cloud Time 

line between our City and Philadelphia. 
Then said Mr. Wharton, but not to me, nor 
to any save to /himself, and so sadly said he 
it, " Nay if so it be may I be sustained." 

Now am I convinced that he and I both 
doth love her, and full well know we that 
Colonel Haynes doth love her also. Doth 
any know which of us three loveth she ? Pray 
God she loveth me! 



THE END 



DEC 39 im^' 



Hliuiiuiii:. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



018 407 874 * 



